In 2023, Ripple’s former CTO, David Schwartz, publicly commented on the internal challenges surrounding XRP’s listing on Coinbase. Pumpius (@pumpius), a veteran crypto pundit, highlighted the situation, emphasizing Coinbase’s gatekeeping role and the potential consequences for other tokens. According to Schwartz, the exchange initially refused to list XRP despite its clear business potential. Coinbase has been accused of market manipulation , and this story takes its unfair practices to a new level. EXPOSED: Coinbase's Greedy Gatekeeping on XRP – JoelKatz Drops the Bombshell! Back in 2023, Ripple's CTO @JoelKatz spilled the tea on what really went down behind closed doors with @Coinbase and the $XRP listing. Coinbase refused to list XRP. Even though it was screamingly… pic.twitter.com/crYfpUYSFF — Pumpius (@pumpius) March 29, 2026 Coinbase’s Refusal to List XRP Schwartz said he could not share the real details. He then presented what he described as a hypothetical version of events. He framed it as a made-up story before explaining how the listing process played out. In that account, Schwartz wrote, “They ask Ripple for millions of dollars to list, and we refuse.” That refusal led to a months-long standoff, and the exchange did not list XRP. Importantly, Schwartz revealed that the exchange agreed that it would have listed XRP if Ripple did not exist. This indicates that the refusal to list was tied directly to Ripple’s involvement rather than technical or regulatory concerns. The Deal That Changed Everything The standoff eventually ended when Ripple negotiated a deal. Funds were exchanged, and the exchange listed XRP. Schwartz revealed the immediate impact: XRP “immediately becomes 20% of the exchange’s revenue.” The token’s listing generated substantial income, reflecting the missed opportunities during the months of refusal. Coinbase initially supported only a few major cryptocurrencies. When Coinbase Pro launched in 2018, it added several additional assets, yet XRP remained notably absent until February 2019, despite being one of the largest cryptocurrencies by market cap. This clearly shows that XRP’s listing was delayed while other major tokens were added incrementally. Some have linked this move to a very early investment by Jeffrey Epstein . This situation illustrates what Pumpius described as a form of gatekeeping by major exchanges. By controlling access to their platforms, exchanges could prioritize profit over market fairness. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Consequences for the Crypto Ecosystem The case raises questions about other unlisted tokens. While Coinbase now sees XRP as an attractive asset , many other game-changing assets may have faced a similar fate. Schwartz further addressed the impact of this move on the SEC lawsuit. He described how some facts from the listing scenario were used selectively to imply unfair practices. However, Schwartz made it clear that Ripple’s actions were to ensure its existence did not hinder XRP. Pumpius’ commentary reinforces the broader concern regarding exchange control. The potential for other tokens to face similar barriers underlines the importance of transparency and full decentralization in the crypto space. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post David Schwartz: Coinbase Asked Ripple for Millions of Dollars to List XRP appeared first on Times Tabloid .
