Ripple CTO David Schwartz: NSA Past & Satoshi Speculation

The enigmatic origins of Bitcoin and the shadowy figure of Satoshi Nakamoto have long been subjects of intense speculation within the cryptocurrency community. Adding a new layer to this enduring mystery, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David “JoelKatz” Schwartz, recently re-engaged with a years-long discussion concerning Bitcoin’s genesis and his own previous affiliations with US government agencies. Schwartz, while consistently refuting claims of possessing "high-level" intelligence or holding unique insights into Satoshi’s identity, acknowledged that a US intelligence provenance for Bitcoin is “not a terrible theory.” This renewed discourse, unfolding in late October 2025, builds upon earlier exchanges from 2022, where Schwartz had previously contributed to the ongoing Satoshi debates, emphasizing the non-defamatory nature of assertions regarding Satoshi’s true identity, including his own. These discussions underscore a persistent fascination with Bitcoin’s foundational narrative and the potential, however remote, of state involvement.

Revisiting Satoshi’s Origins: The State-Actor Hypothesis

The conversation gained traction following fresh interactions on X (formerly Twitter), where Schwartz addressed queries about his prior employment and associated non-disclosure obligations. This line of inquiry directly harks back to an October 2022 thread where he first articulated his views on the Satoshi identity dispute. In that exchange, Schwartz firmly stated, “There is nothing defamatory about saying that Craig Wright is not Satoshi, just as there is nothing defamatory about saying that I am not Satoshi.” He further clarified that “There is nothing inherently wrong with not being Satoshi,” effectively distancing himself from any such grand claims.

It was within this 2022 dialogue that the notion of state involvement in Bitcoin’s creation initially surfaced. When a community member playfully suggested, “David Schwartz is Satoshi confirmed jk lol” and hypothesized that “Satoshi is really the CIA or NSA,” Schwartz’s response proved particularly resonant. He mused, “That’s not a terrible theory. If the NSA or the CIA happened to stumble on how to make bitcoin, it might make sense that they would implement and deploy it to eliminate the risk that someone hostile to the US would do it first and potentially made billions of dollars.” This perspective highlights a strategic rationale for state development of a decentralized digital currency – not for control, but for preemption against potential adversaries.

Schwartz’s Past Engagements: Clarifying the Scope of Intelligence

The 2025 follow-up discussions delved deeper into Schwartz’s own professional background, particularly his work with the NSA. A commenter’s assertion, “Well, you’ve worked at the NSA, getting high level information, by your own words,” prompted a direct and unequivocal rebuttal from the Ripple CTO. Schwartz emphatically rejected this characterization, stating, “I never got anything even remotely resembling high level information. I had to certify that the thing I was working on would meet the NSA’s requirements without even being allowed to see most of them.” This clarification is crucial, as it underscores the highly compartmentalized nature of intelligence work, where individuals often contribute to projects without full oversight of the broader objectives or sensitive data.

I never got anything even remotely resembling high level information. I had to certify that the thing I was working on would meet the NSA’s requirements without even being allowed to see most of them.

— David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) October 23, 2025

To further illustrate this point, Schwartz shared compelling anecdotes about the stringent compartmentalization he experienced. He recalled being puzzled by a requirement he *was* permitted to see: "One requirement that I was allowed to see was that you had to be able to stop it from processing classified data if you lost control over it. I was puzzled—if you lost control over it, by definition you can’t stop it, right? It was explained to me that that’s…” This incomplete explanation vividly portrays the limited scope of information he received. He also noted enigmatic signage he was forbidden to understand: “They wouldn’t even tell me why there’s little signs all over the place (generally on entrances or containers) that can be set to ‘OPEN’ or ‘CLOSED’ and what ‘OPEN’ and ‘CLOSED’ mean on those signs.” These recollections paint a picture of an environment where individual contributors operate within extremely narrow informational silos.

From NATO to NSA: The Evolution of Code

Schwartz further recounted a fascinating instance where he recognized the user interface of a project he had worked on, not through official briefings, but serendipitously through a television program. “One thing I worked on,” he explained, “because late one night I happened to have the Discovery Channel on and saw our UI on a screen.” He elaborated on the code’s lineage, clarifying, “To be precise, that was work I did (on the same core code) for NATO shortly before I adapted it for the NSA.” While he could not recall how he discovered the NSA’s specific application of the technology, he assured that the “exact uses, but they’re pretty boring,” subtly deflating any potential for conspiracy theories. When asked about the expiry of his non-disclosure agreement, Schwartz candidly admitted, “I have no idea. They didn’t let me keep a copy and I don’t remember—if I ever even knew. I just hope nobody really cares any more. Plus, I never really knew anything all that secret.” This sentiment reinforces his consistent message: his involvement was technical and limited, far removed from strategic intelligence.

Conclusion: Separating Plausibility from Endorsement

The consistent thread connecting Schwartz’s 2022 and 2025 pronouncements is a willingness to consider state-origin hypotheses for Bitcoin as plausible scenarios, without ever personally endorsing them or claiming insider knowledge. His detailed clarifications regarding the nature of his work with the NSA and NATO provide significant context. Far from hinting at a conspiracy, his narratives describe a career marked by process-driven engineering within highly siloed environments, characterized by limited visibility into the ultimate applications of his work, and, crucially, no privileged access to high-level intelligence secrets. These repeated explanations serve to temper speculative fervor, offering a nuanced perspective on the intersection of advanced technology, national security, and the enduring mystique surrounding Bitcoin’s genesis. As these discussions unfold, the cryptocurrency market continues its own dynamic trajectory, with XRP trading at $2.42 at press time, a testament to the ongoing evolution of the digital asset landscape.