5 Hot Points of Ledger’s XRP Centralization Debate, Justin Bons vs David Schwartz: Who’s Right?

Jakarta, Pintu News – The crypto community was recently stirred up by a heated debate over the level of centralization on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) between Cyber Capital founder, Justin Bons, and Ripple CTO, David Schwartz.

Bons made a sharp criticism by saying that the network is still highly centralized and has significant security risks for its holders. This debate is very important for you cryptocurrency investors, because the issue of centralization is often a determining factor in the long-term valuation of a digital asset in the eyes of regulators and large institutions.

Justin Bons’ sharp criticism of XRP’s network structure

Justin Bons argues that the consensus mechanism on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) still gives too much control to certain parties, especially through the list of recommended validators. He states that if the majority of validators are controlled or influenced by a single entity, then the basic principle of decentralization that is the spirit of blockchain technology has been lost. You need to understand that this criticism is not new, but it has come to the fore again as transparency standards have risen for many of today’s top crypto projects.

Furthermore, Bons warns that this kind of structure could make the network more vulnerable to legal intervention or asset seizure by state authorities. If one entity has a dominant influence, then the risk of transaction censorship becomes a real threat that every user in the forex and digital markets must be aware of. Although the price of Ripple (XRP) is currently hovering around $2.38 or around Rp39,886 per coin (exchange rate of Rp16,759), fundamental issues like this could trigger unexpected volatility in the future.

Also Read: 5 Reasons BTC Bullish Signals Are Appearing Again: Coinbase Premium Positive, BTC Breaks Rp1.5 Billion?

David Schwartz’s Defense of XRPL Security

David Schwartz, technical officer at Ripple, responded to the criticism by explaining that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is designed to prevent any one entity from imposing its will on the network. He emphasized that validators have complete freedom to choose their own list of validators without being subject to recommendations from Ripple. Schwartz emphasized that the security of the network lies precisely in the ever-expanding diversity of validators, which makes it fundamentally different from the traditional banking system that is completely closed.

He also added that XRPL’s unique mechanism allows for quick detection if any validator tries to cheat or impede the course of global consensus. You as an investor should see this argument as part of the evolution of blockchain technology that continues to seek a balance between transaction speed and the ideal level of decentralization. Compared to Bitcoin (BTC) which usesproof of work, the system used by Ripple (XRP) does offer much better energy efficiency for large-scale commercial use.

The Impact of the Debate on Investors and the Future of XRP

The debate between these two experts shows that governance transparency remains a very sensitive topic in the cryptocurrency world. For you, this information is very useful to assess the risk profile of the assets you own, especially if you also invest in other coins such as Ethereum (ETH) or Pepe Coin (PEPE). Clarity on the extent to which a project is truly decentralized will influence the decisions of institutional investors who seek maximum legal and technical security in their portfolios.

On the other hand, this debate also encourages the development team to continue to innovate and provide stronger technical proof to the public. If XRP is able to prove its level of decentralization empirically, then the potential for adoption as a payment bridge between countries will be wide open. You are advised to not only look at daily price movements, but also explore the architecture behind the coins you buy so that you are not easily swayed by the narratives circulating on social media.

Also Read: 5 Reasons for BlackRock to Raise Bitcoin & Ethereum IDR 2.52 Trillion, Bullish Signal End of February 2026!

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*Disclaimer

This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Trading crypto carries high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold hard cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling Bitcoin (BTC) and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.

Reference:

• BeInCrypto. XRP Ledger Centralization Debate: Justin Bons vs. David Schwartz. Accessed February 26, 2026.