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The Mysterious Mind of Joel Katz Ripple’s Hidden Strategist

Most people know David Schwartz (Joel Katz) as Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer. But beneath the casual tweets and cryptic symbols lies one of the most enigmatic figures in the $XRP story the man many believe holds the deepest secrets of Ripple’s grand design.

For years, Joel has dropped hints that many dismiss as jokes. But to those watching closely, each post seems like a breadcrumb, pointing to a future the world isn’t ready to acknowledge yet.

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The $11,106.78 “Jackpot” Tweet

Out of nowhere, Joel tweeted a simple number:

$11,106.78

No context. No explanation.

To some, it was a liquidity pool math reference. To others, it was a price target cloaked in plausible deniability the figure XRP could theoretically reach once global liquidity corridors are activated at full scale.

Even years later, that single tweet remains a centerpiece of XRP speculation forums.

⍼ The ‘Not a Knot’ Symbol A Mathematical Signature

Joel once tweeted a single character: ⍼

No caption. Just the symbol.

Crypto Twitter went into meltdown trying to decode it. Eventually, some discovered it’s a mathematical interpolation term meaning “Not a Knot” used in spline functions to mark a unique and defining interpolation point.

Many interpreted this as a subtle nod to XRP’s unique position in the future financial system a bridge asset, neither fiat nor fully decentralized crypto, but something in between: the knot that isn’t.

“Lock In” The Whisper Before the Storm

In late 2021, during a heated discussion about XRP’s role in the global settlement layer, Joel replied with two simple words:

  • “Lock in.”

For the XRP Army, this was more than a comment.

It was a signal to HODL a whisper to the insiders that something major was coming. Soon after, Ripple’s legal battles and institutional integrations escalated..

Coincidence? Maybe. But Joel’s timing is rarely random.

The Chessboard Endgame

One of his most infamous tweets: a photo of a chessboard, mid-endgame. No text.

The community quickly picked up on it. The position was close to checkmate. To many, this was a cryptic way of saying:

  • “Ripple is only a few moves away from victory.”

Victory over what? The SEC. The old SWIFT rails. The legacy banking system.

It wasn’t a statement. It was a signal quiet, deniable, powerful.

The $0.006 Origin

Joel once casually mentioned he bought XRP at $0.006. While it sounded like a humble flex, it was also a reminder: those who understood early made 1,000× gains.

And if it happened once, could it happen again when global payment corridors light up? This single comment keeps resurfacing in bull market speculations proof that insiders were positioned long before the crowd.

The $10,000 Hypothetical

Joel has never promised sky-high prices. But in technical discussions, he has explained how, in theory, XRP could reach extreme valuations if it were to handle global settlement flows trillions in liquidity moving through a limited supply bridge asset.

Not a prediction. A hypothetical scenario.

But for many, this was all they needed. The seed of belief was planted.

“Sometimes It’s Better to Say Nothing”

After major Ripple closed-door meetings, Joel tweeted:

  • “Sometimes it’s better to say nothing.”

This became legend. The timing aligned with several high-level international regulatory summits, sparking speculation that he knew something seismic was in motion.

The Pattern in His Likes

Joel doesn’t just tweet cryptic things he likes them too.

XRP sleuths have documented him liking tweets with numbers like 589, 7,777, and 10,000 shortly before unusual XRP price movements or legal developments.

Random behavior… or deliberate signaling to those paying attention?

The Man Behind the Puzzle

Joel Katz doesn’t act like a hype man. He acts like a chess player. A mathematician. A signaler. Some believe he’s just eccentric. Others are convinced he’s the quiet architect of XRP’s rise, leaving coded trails for those sharp enough to follow.

One thing is clear: XRP’s future is not being played out loudly in headlines it’s being whispered through puzzles.

And Joel? He’s several moves ahead.

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