Arthur Britto, co-founder of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), has broken a 14-year silence on X (formerly Twitter) with a cryptic tweet featuring a single ‘Face Without Mouth’ emoji.
Britto, who joined X in August 2011, suddenly posted on June 23, 2025, fueling many theories. Market watchers believe his unexpected reappearance is not random and could signal something significant for the network.
Who is Arthur Britto?
Arthur Britto is one of the original architects behind the XRP Ledger. Alongside developers David Schwartz and Jed McCaleb, Britto played a crucial role in creating the XRPL as an alternative to Bitcoin (BTC), addressing issues like energy-intensive mining and scalability.
“While McCaleb went on to launch Stellar and Schwartz became Ripple’s CTO, Britto remained in the background — an unseen architect. He is known as the quiet force behind the XRP Ledger,” a user wrote.
Britto has remained largely out of the public eye despite his significant contributions. He has never given interviews, appeared in photographs, or participated in public forums, making him one of the most mysterious figures in crypto, akin to the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto. Some even believe that Britto could be Satoshi.
“So private that he’s one of my dark horse candidates for being Satoshi,” a Reddit user stated.
Moreover, the secrecy has even ignited rumors questioning his existence, with some suggesting he may not be a real person. However, it seems highly unlikely that Britto is a false identity. David Schwartz has mentioned Britto multiple times.
In fact, a document between Chris Larsen, McCaleb, and Britto was making rounds on crypto Twitter in early June. The document also legitimizes his identity.
“Signed on Sept 17, 2012, this agreement between Chris Larsen, Jed McCaleb, and Arthur Britto confirms that Britto received 2% of ALL XRP (then called “Ripple Credits”) and more importantly, it gave him lifetime rights to build on the Ripple protocol, without needing permission,” the post read.
In the comments, Schwartz confirmed he was still in contact with Britto. Still, given Britto’s long-standing silence and the mystery surrounding his public absence, his recent post stirred the XRP community.
Some members even questioned whether his account had been compromised. However, Schwartz clarified that the post was real and not a security breach.
“I can confirm this was not a hack or compromise,” he said.
What Could Arthur Britto’s Return Signal for XRP’s Future?
Meanwhile, Britto’s first post, with over 2,000 comments and 3,000 reposts on his inactive account, has sparked speculation among the XRP community about what this could mean.
John Squire highlighted Britto’s post’s strategic timing, noting that it coincides with several key developments, including record on-chain volume. The rumors surrounding Ripple going public and pre-bull market conditions further suggest a pattern.
“The XRP community has been starved for a catalyst. Ripple’s institutional momentum is growing — but this? This could hint at something deeper: Tech upgrades? Insider movement? A major liquidity partnership? Strategic timing?” he said.
Another user outlined Britto’s ambitious vision for XRP. This included reaching a $10,000 price and creating a ledger capable of supporting 8 billion people, thus enabling a global financial system.
This user suggested that his reappearance might signal that his original vision is nearing reality.
“Perhaps a signal: XRP is reaching its moment. The global shift towards digital payments, CBDCs, and stablecoins is aligning with the original vision. The XRP Ledger is closer than ever to serving billions,” he claimed.
In contrast, a pseudonymous user, Pumpius, suggested that Britto’s silence was intentional. According to them, Britto was not creating a cryptocurrency for profit but rather building a fail-safe for the dollar system. XRP wasn’t designed to experience explosive price growth but to replace SWIFT if the traditional financial system collapsed.
“You won’t find Britto in a podcast. You won’t see him on X. But you will feel his presence — When the system flips. When the dollar dies. When SWIFT breaks. When the corridors light up. Then you’ll know: Britto was never gone. He was always waiting,” Pumpius remarked.
As of now, no official statement from Ripple or Britto clarifies the tweet’s intent. The market remains on edge, with many awaiting further posts from the co-founder, who has historically stayed out of the public eye.
Whether this marks the beginning of a new chapter for XRPL or merely a personal milestone for Britto, the XRP community is watching closely.
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