Block Stars with David Schwartz

Latest Episodes:

Block Stars: The Euro Goes Onchain - How Schuman Financial Is Powering Europe’s Digital Future Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

Europe’s financial landscape is evolving and the euro is officially going onchain.
In this episode of Block Stars, Ripple CTO David Schwartz sits down with Martin Bruncko, Co-Founder and CEO of Schuman Financial, to discuss the launch of EURØP — the first fully compliant, euro-backed stablecoin on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).

Together, they explore what this milestone means for the future of global payments, stablecoin regulation, and Europe’s growing role in digital finance.

What to expect:
• Why the euro matters onchain — and what EURØP means for Europe’s competitiveness
• How Schuman Financial is bridging traditional finance and DeFi through compliant innovation
• XRPL’s unique role in enabling institutional-grade stablecoins with speed, low cost, and interoperability
• How stablecoins like EURØP and RLUSD are redefining cross-border payments and tokenized assets
• What’s next for Europe’s digital economy under MiCA regulation

Block Stars: Blockchain and DeFi Trends in 2025 Mar 24, 2025

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In this special 2025 blockchain trends and predictions episode of Block Stars, Ripple CTO David Schwartz sits down with Markus Infanger, SVP of RippleX, to unpack what’s ahead for blockchain, DeFi, and institutional adoption.
From zero-knowledge proofs to tokenized money market funds, corporate treasury diversification, and the future of programmability on the XRP Ledger—this conversation dives into the biggest trends shaping the next phase of blockchain innovation.
What to expect:

Will 2025 be the tipping point for real-world asset tokenization?
How programmable will public blockchains get—and why does it matter?
Why corporate treasuries are eyeing crypto beyond just Bitcoin
The importance of transparency, liquidity, and compliance in the next wave of tokenization

Tune in to explore what lays ahead in 2025!
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👉Subscribe to our channel: / @ripple

Block Stars: Intersection of Blockchain and AI Feb 07, 2025

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In this special episode of Block Stars, join David Schwartz, CTO of Ripple, and Dimitri Restaino, Senior Solutions Architect at AWS, as they explore the exciting convergence of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
In this dynamic conversation, David and Dimitri dive into how the integration of AI and blockchain technologies is set to revolutionize industries ranging from finance to decentralized applications (dApps). This episode focuses on new opportunities, the challenges of combining these technologies, and what’s next for innovation.
What to expect:

AI’s Role in Blockchain Development
Data Trust, Privacy & Security
Decentralized Collaboration
AI-Driven Innovation
The Future of Blockchain with AI Integration

Tune in to understand how AI and blockchain are coming together to redefine what’s possible in decentralized finance and beyond!
👉Learn More About Ripple USD: https://ripple.com/insights/championi...
👉Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/RippleXDev
👉Subscribe to our channel: / @ripple

Enhancing Interoperability with Axelar Bridge Oct 30, 2024

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Welcome to a special live episode of Block Stars! In this episode, recorded on stage at one of the biggest blockchain events of the year, our host David Schwartz, CTO of Ripple, is joined by the CTO of Axelar, Georgios Vlachos. Together, they dive into the future of blockchain interoperability and how Axelar is playing a critical role in connecting blockchain ecosystems.
What to Expect:

Live from the Stage: Experience the energy of a live recording as David and Axelar’s CTO take the stage at this exclusive blockchain event.
Interoperability Insights: Learn why cross-chain communication is essential for the future of blockchain and how Axelar’s technology is paving the way for greater connectivity.
Bridging the XRPL and EVM Sidechain: Discover how Axelar’s bridge integrates with the XRPL EVM Sidechain, unlocking new possibilities for decentralized finance (DeFi) and real-world asset tokenization.
Future of Multi-Chain: Hear Axelar’s vision for the future of blockchain applications and how their General Message Passing (GMP) protocol is enabling the next generation of cross-chain smart contracts.

Exploring Ripple's New Stablecoin Ripple USD (RLUSD) Aug 05, 2024

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Welcome to another exciting episode of Block Stars! In this special edition, we shed light on Ripple’s latest innovation - an all-new stablecoin which will be issued on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains. Join our host, David Schwartz, as he engages in an insightful discussion with Ripple President Monica Long on RLUSD use cases, advantages, integrations and more.
What to Expect:
- Explore the details behind RLUSD and its anticipated impact on the XRPL ecosystem.
- Dive into the technical aspects of RLUSD, and how it can help create more liquidity on the DEX.
- Understand the potential implications for businesses, developers, and users within the XRPL community and beyond.
- Gain insights into how Ripple plans to integrate this stablecoin into the broader financial ecosystem and what the future holds.
Don’t miss this deep dive into the future of blockchain technology and the exciting developments on the XRP Ledger.
👉Learn More About Ripple USD: https://ripple.com/insights/championi...
👉Follow us on Twitter: https://x.com/RippleXDev

Looking Ahead to XRP Ledger Apex 2024 May 31, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to another exciting episode of Block Stars! In this special edition, we are thrilled to spotlight the upcoming XRP Ledger Apex 2024 – the official global community summit that unites developers, innovators, businesses, and investors for an exciting three-day celebration of blockchain technology and the incredible world of the XRP Ledger. Join our host, David Schwartz, as he dives into a captivating discussion with two trailblazing guests:
🌟Prasanth Kalangi - CEO & Founder of Zoniqx, a highly accomplished tech entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in deep tech. He holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Bremen, Germany. Throughout his career, he has worked with several Fortune 100 companies, including Barclays, EY, BCG, and Toyota, serving in roles such as Solutions Architect and Chief Technology Officer.
🌟Prithvish Baidya – Lead Engineer at Zoniqx, known for his work on advanced decentralized solutions and co-author of the ERC7518 standard for globally compliant security token transfer.
What to Expect
Anticipation and Insights: Hear what our guests are most excited about at XRP Ledger Apex 2024 and get a sneak peek into their upcoming presentations.
Collaboration and Innovation: Discover how Apex fosters a collaborative environment that accelerates innovation within the XRPL community.
Building the Future: Dive deep into the groundbreaking projects from Zoniqx and Meld Gold, and learn how they are contributing to the evolution of the XRPL ecosystem.
The Apex Experience: Get valuable advice on how to make the most out of your experience at XRP Ledger Apex 2024.
Join us as we navigate the future of blockchain and crypto, unlocking new opportunities and forging meaningful connections. Don't miss this insightful conversation that sets the stage for XRP Ledger Apex 2024, taking place in Amsterdam from June 11-13.
👉Register for XRP Ledger Apex 2024: https://www.xrpledgerapex.com/
👉Follow us on Twitter: / ripplexdev

Blockchain and Crypto Security Feb 20, 2024

Show notes

In the latest episode of Block Stars, David Schwartz, Ripple CTO, teams up with leading experts Ari Redbord, Global Head of Policy and Government Affairs at TRM Labs and Ronghui Gu, Co-Founder of CertiK to unravel the complexities of blockchain security.
- Explore the evolution of blockchain security over the past decade, highlighting XRPL's stability and the opportunities and risks posed by smart contracts.
- Delve into the intricacies of blockchain security, discussing the latest advancements, challenges, and strategies for safeguarding digital assets.
- Gain valuable predictions and forecasts for the future of blockchain security, including emerging threats, regulatory trends, technological innovations.
Join us for an enlightening discussion as we navigate the changing landscape of blockchain security and empower users to protect themselves in the digital age.

Blockchain Horizons: 2024 Predictions Dec 22, 2023

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In the final episode of Block Stars for 2023, David Schwartz, Ripple CTO, teams up with Red, a leading analyst at Messari, to uncover what lays ahead in 2024 for blockchain.
- AI and Blockchain: Join us for an exploration into the transformative convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain
- RWA Tokenization: Uncover the potential of Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization, enhancing lending, increasing security, and seamlessly merging traditional finance with blockchain.
- Decentralized Identity (DID): Dive into the detail of Decentralized Identity (DID) and the impact it could be set to have on individual privacy and security.
The duo discuss groundbreaking predictions including the convergence of AI and blockchain, RWA tokenization, decentralized identity, interoperability and the transformative impact of stablecoins.
Join us for a speculative deep dive as we consider what is around the corner in what promises to be an exciting year for the industry!

Programmability: XRPL EVM Sidechain Dec 08, 2023

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In this episode of Block Stars, David Schwartz, Ripple CTO, explores the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible XRP Ledger sidechain with special guests Ferran Prat, CEO at Peersyst and Adria Carrera, CTO at Peersyst.
The episode explores:
- The capabilities of the XRP Ledger EVM Sidechain and its role in bringing innovative applications to the XRP Ledger community.
- Interoperability, emphasizing its direct connection to the XRP Ledger through the XRPL Bridge, facilitating seamless transactions and enhancing liquidity.
- A guide on how you can get started with the XRP Ledger EVM Sidechain, covering account setup, wallet connections and submitting a transaction.
Join us for a deep dive into the future of programmability in a multichain world and subscribe now to keep up to date with the very latest on the XRP Ledger.

Building with Confidence on the XRP Ledger: XRP is Not a Security Oct 25, 2023

Show notes

The groundbreaking July 2023 ruling from the SEC and XRP lawsuit found that XRP is not in and of itself a security. XRP's status as a non-security in the US and other jurisdictions provides a solid foundation of clarity for developers looking to establish and grow a blockchain-based business. This outcome further enables blockchain developers to build with confidence on the XRP Ledger - an open source and fully decentralized layer 1 blockchain powered by a global developer community.
But establishing XRP's status in the US was an arduous journey. With the lawsuit having reached an emphatic conclusion, this episode of Block Stars with David Schwartz features a very special guest, Ripple's Chief Legal Officer, Stu Alderoty, who sat down to discuss:

The long road to legal clarity for XRP and what it means for the broader crypto and blockchain community
Opportunities that have emerged in light of the ruling such as institutional adoption of blockchain solutions for finance, tokenization of real world assets (RWAs), Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) and stablecoin issuers on the XRP Ledger, to name just a few
The impact of the ruling on blockchain developers, financial institutions, businesses and the digital asset ecosystem