XRP Ledger Decentralization Debate Heats Up Between Bons and Schwartz

A high-profile debate has emerged within the cryptocurrency community regarding the decentralization of the XRP Ledger. The discussion revolves around the Unique Node List (UNL), a mechanism used to facilitate the validation process and prevent malicious actors from overwhelming the network.

Crypto researcher Justin Bons has criticized the UNL, arguing that it is permissioned and prone to coordination risks. According to Bons, this structure gives influence to entities associated with XRP, including the Ripple Foundation and the company itself.

However, David Schwartz, Ripple's Chief Technology Officer, disputes these claims, stating that XRPL does not function in the same way as Bitcoin. He emphasizes that each node independently counts validator agreement, making it difficult for validators to conspire against honest nodes.

The debate also touches on censorship risk and the potential impact of regulatory pressure on the network's operation. Schwartz maintains that while validators could theoretically halt the chain from the perspective of honest nodes, they would not be able to double-spend under XRPL's design.