Ripple CTO to Host AMA on XRPL Programmability: What to Expect

David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, has disclosed intentions to host an X Spaces next Wednesday to discuss programmability on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The session will focus on Schwartz’s views on the topic and include community input from XRP enthusiasts.

I’m hosting a Space next Wednesday to discuss programmability on the XRPL – including how my thinking has evolved on this topic, and inviting @msvadari to share the feedback she’s collected on what folks would like to see with any programmability proposal, and why. Looking…

— David “JoelKatz” Schwartz (@JoelKatz) September 16, 2024

Background: Ripple’s New Programmability Plans

This announcement follows recent revelations from Ripple executives, including Schwartz and CEO Brad Garlinghouse, about plans to enhance XRPL’s programmability.

Garlinghouse disclosed that Ripple is developing an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain for the XRPL, enabling smart contract deployment. This project aligns with Ripple’s broader strategy to expand XRPL’s utility and attract developers and users by 2025.

Schwartz has also clarified that while Ripple supports the EVM sidechain, it is considering a proposal to enable smart contracts directly on the XRPL Mainnet. However, the company is mindful of potential risks, such as ledger bloat and security vulnerabilities.

Notably, Ripple’s latest plans to bring smart contract functionality to XRPL have attracted diverse commentaries and confusion in the community as they deviate from the company’s earlier position. However, this upcoming programmability session by Schwartz seeks to further clarify the subject.

Community Feedback and Key Topics

Schwartz will be joined by Mayukha Vadari, a senior software engineer at Ripple, who has collected feedback on what the community wants to see in any future programmability proposal for the XRPL.

The discussion is expected to cover the possibilities of smart contract integration and enhanced programmability and how these changes could potentially increase the utility and adoption of XRPL.

Several community members have already expressed interest, including XRP Cafe co-founder Vet, who called the potential developments “nothing short of revolutionary.”

Also, XRPL ambassador Daniel Keller called on Schwartz to clarify what was said at the recent Asia conference and earlier conversations with OrchestraFi that influenced Schwartz’s changing stance on XRPL’s programmability.

Community member Altan Okur urged Schwartz to discuss the overall strategy, its pros and cons, and a timeline for implementing programmability on the XRPL.

Another user views Schwartz’s Space as a chance to address lingering questions on XRP’s adoption by institutions. The commenter noted that while Schwartz has mentioned in interviews that institutions favor Ripple’s payment software for its privacy features, there is still a need for clarity on how XRP will achieve widespread use as a settlement tool.

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