At the Apex 2025 summit, David Schwartz, Chief Technology Officer at Ripple and co-creator of the XRP Ledger, gave an in-depth discussion on the present trajectory and future potential of blockchain, DeFi, and tokenized finance.

His remarks were captured in a tweet by crypto commentator Xaif, who noted the significance of Schwartz’s comments about real-world tokenization, DeFi development, and institutional momentum flowing toward the XRP Ledger.

Personal Reflections on a Decade of Progress

Schwartz spoke candidly about his connection to the XRP Ledger’s evolution. Reflecting on the journey, he described his emotional attachment to the project. He stated that he experiences a deep sense of ownership and fulfillment watching the ledger grow into what it is today, more than a decade after its inception.

Although he had hoped the ledger would become something meaningful, he admitted that he could not have predicted the full scale and shape of what it has become.

JUST IN: David Schwartz drops at #Apex2025!

He dives deep into Real World Tokenization, DeFi evolution & how multi-trillion dollar flows are coming to the XRPL Ledger

The future is being built on XRP Ledger. Don't sleep on it.#XRPL #XRP #DeFi #Crypto pic.twitter.com/owRNvuE9yg

— 𝕏aif| (@Xaif_Crypto) June 12, 2025

Apex 2025 Marks a Shift in Community Composition

Discussing the Apex event itself, Schwartz explained how it has developed from its origins as a developer-focused gathering into a broader, more diverse summit. This year’s event saw participation from institutional representatives, retail investors, developers, and general supporters of the ecosystem.

Schwartz pointed out that the presence of institutions focused on tokenizing real-world assets signals a major shift. He identified this institutional engagement as a key factor that could drive the next wave of blockchain adoption.

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Building DeFi for Everyday Financial Needs

On the topic of innovation on the XRP Ledger, Schwartz emphasized that the most crucial developments are those enabling the kind of financial tools needed by ordinary users. He noted that while speculation and digital collectibles have dominated earlier phases of blockchain growth, they are not sufficient for achieving widespread adoption.

Instead, Schwartz argued that the future lies in providing services such as loans, payments, and stable investment products that meet real financial needs. He described these developments as necessary to make decentralized finance a viable alternative to traditional finance.

Technical Foundations for Institutional-Grade Blockchain Use

In technical terms, Schwartz highlighted that the ability to support complex asset structures is fundamental for achieving this vision. This includes tokenized real-world assets, loan portfolios, and fractional ownership mechanisms.

He explained that once these functionalities are robustly implemented on-chain, the blockchain space will be able to directly compete with traditional finance markets. According to him, this represents a multi-trillion-dollar opportunity, orders of magnitude larger than the current DeFi market.

Schwartz’s appearance at Apex 2025 comes at a pivotal time for the XRP Ledger, which is increasingly drawing attention from both developers and institutional players for its capabilities in supporting tokenization and scalable financial applications. His comments align with broader trends indicating growing convergence between blockchain infrastructure and mainstream financial services.

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