Ripple CTO is exploring native XRP staking

According to Thestreet, Ripple's Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and one of the founding architects of the XRP Ledger, David Schwartz, has proposed a new model involving staking that could fundamentally change the way the blockchain network operates.

The discussion originated from a lengthy tweet posted by Ripple's Senior Engineering Director, J. Ayo Akinyele, exploring the possibility of adding staking functionality to the XRP Ledger. The XRP Ledger was launched in 2012 and 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 their crypto assets to qualify for transaction confirmations and network security, and can earn crypto rewards.

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