A recent comment from Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has revived long-running speculation that Ripple’s chief technology officer, David Schwartz, could be linked to Bitcoin’s anonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
The discussion surfaced during a recent discussion where analyst Angry Crypto Show revisited earlier claims that pointed to Schwartz as a possible candidate for Satoshi. The theory has circulated for years, supported by figures such as the late John McAfee, who once said Schwartz was the most likely person behind the original Bitcoin design.
Renewed Attention After Hoskinson’s Remarks
Interest grew again after Hoskinson described Schwartz as “very smart” and said he had helped Cardano’s Midnight team without charging anything. Hoskinson said Ripple and Midnight had spoken during development, as both groups worked on privacy technology and cross-chain design.
He added that XRP is “one of the oldest cryptocurrency ecosystems,” created before Ethereum and built with a design that challenged Bitcoin’s early model. His comments were seen as unusually positive at a time when Cardano and XRP communities often disagree on social media.
Why Schwartz’s Name Keeps Coming Up
Analysts say Schwartz’s long history in cryptography and distributed systems makes him a recurring figure in Satoshi discussions. He has worked on security architecture since the 1990s and played a major role in building the XRP Ledger, one of the earliest blockchain networks after Bitcoin.
Supporters of the theory say his technical writing and early activity match what many expect from the anonymous Bitcoin creator. Schwartz has denied the idea several times, and no evidence has ever confirmed the claim.
The analyst said the speculation is likely to continue as long as Satoshi Nakamoto remains unidentified.