XRP's Centralization Debate Took a Major Hit Asset manager, 21Shares, has challenged one of the longest-running criticisms surrounding ripple:native and Ripple's relationship with the XRP Ledger. The asset manager says Ripple operates only one validator among roughly 35 on the

What happened

Asset manager 21Shares challenged the criticism that Ripple controls the XRP Ledger, stating that Ripple operates only one validator, or network participant that confirms transactions, out of roughly 35 total validators.

Confirmed

Global impact / market context

If Ripple runs only a small share of validators, the XRP network appears less centralized, which could ease investor worries about Ripple's control and support XRP's credibility as a decentralized asset.

Analyst inference

This news addresses a key debate about XRP's governance. Reduced centralization concerns may improve investor confidence in XRP, potentially influencing demand, while regulators watch how decentralized networks are run.

Analyst inference

What to watch

1. Confirm the exact number of total validators on the XRP Ledger, as the article states approximately 35, and verify how many are operated by Ripple versus independent parties. Confirmed
2. Watch for responses from other XRP validators or community members to see if they support or dispute 21Shares' claim, which could affect the centralization debate. Proposed
3. Monitor XRP price and trading volumes after this news, as a perceived reduction in centralization risk might attract new investors seeking decentralized assets. Analyst inference

Affected assets

• XRP — XRP

Evidence

• x.com