Ripple CTO is exploring native XRP staking

According to ChainCatcher, market sources report that Ripple CTO and one of the founding architects of XRP Ledger, David Schwartz, has proposed a new model involving staking, which could fundamentally change the way this blockchain network operates.

This discussion originated from a long post on X by Ripple Senior Director of Engineering, J. Ayo Akinyele, exploring the possibility of adding staking functionality to the XRP Ledger. Launched in 2012, the XRP Ledger uses a Proof-of-Association (PoA) consensus mechanism, where validators reach consensus on XRP transactions every 3-5 seconds. In contrast, blockchains like Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) use a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, where users must lock or stake crypto assets to gain the right to confirm transactions and secure the network, and can earn crypto rewards.

Akinyele stated that XRP has evolved from a fast remittance tool to a network supporting tokenized asset settlement and enabling real-time market liquidity. With the launch of the first spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States, the XRP ecosystem has entered a new phase, prompting him and Schwartz to consider supporting native staking on the XRP Ledger.