Crypto is a “Once-in-a-Generation” Chance to Get Rich, Says Ripple EX CTO David Schwartz

Ripple EX CTO David Schwartz says crypto could be a “once-in-a-generation” chance to get rich, yet he has shifted most of his personal wealth out of digital assets to sleep better at night.

The longtime Ripple executive, known on X as JoelKatz, made the admission while defending his decision to sell Ethereum (ETH) at just $1.05, long before its run to roughly $2,368.

The Crypto Bet He Walked Away From

Schwartz said he never believed Ethereum had even a 1% chance of reaching its current price. In his own words, the math was not the issue. He simply did not see the path.

“If I had thought there was a 1% chance of it hitting $2,368, I would not have sold it for $1.05. I’m still not sure the odds of that happening really were more than 1% at the time.” — Schwartz

That logic, he argued, has guided most of his investing. Schwartz prefers stable outcomes over speculative ones, even when those bets have repeatedly paid off in his career.

Generational Wealth With a Catch

Schwartz framed the broader crypto opportunity as historic, while accepting he is unlikely to capture much of it. He said he has reduced his XRP holdings and tried to limit his exposure to digital assets outside of his Ripple equity.

However, he still holds more than one million XRP, making clear that he continues to maintain significant exposure to the asset. Even after substantially reducing his position from earlier levels, his remaining holdings are still worth several million dollars, depending on market conditions.

The Ripple co-founder added that he is “not the diamond hands guy,” instead identifying as a “smart, sensible investment guy” who accepts the cost of caution.

The Crypto Billionaire He Did Not Become

Schwartz also acknowledged the personal price of his risk aversion. He said he could “easily” have joined the billionaire ranks had he held more crypto for longer, but argued the tradeoff was worth it.

The remarks land at a moment when XRP investors are watching every signal from Ripple’s leadership. Schwartz’s caution may unsettle holders banking on a generational bull run, even as he insists the bigger opportunity has not yet been missed.