David Schwartz, known on X as JoelKatz and one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger, has begun blocking accounts that insert crypto-related comments or criticism into conversations that are not about crypto.
Why The Blocks Started
Schwartz explained that a growing number of people are responding to his replies on unrelated topics with crypto content or insults. In his view, those replies can place off-topic posts into the feeds of the people he is actually talking with.
He described the pattern as forcing the people he is speaking to into a choice: tolerate the replies or block the account responsible. To avoid that outcome, he said, he has started blocking the accounts responsible.
A significant share of the posts, he noted, accused him of fraud or scamming. He stated that he will block this behavior regardless of whether the comment is framed as XRP criticism or praise.
What’s Still Fair Game
Schwartz drew a distinction between relevant criticism and irrelevant spam. He wrote that he does not mind people criticizing him or accusing him of wrongdoing, provided the posts contain actual content and avoid simple slurs.
Recently, there’s been a significant increase in people responding to replies of mine that have nothing to do with crypto with insults or crypto content. I hate to do it, but I pretty much have to block for this because otherwise the people I’m replying to have no choice but to…
— David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) November 7, 2026
The condition is placement: such comments should appear in the critic’s own threads or in replies to Schwartz’s posts where the topic has at least some relevance.
What he said he will not tolerate is users following him across X specifically to insert “scammer” or even positive XRP comments into conversations that have nothing to do with crypto. Those replies, he argued, anger the people whose threads are being used.
An Offer To Unblock
For anyone already blocked under this policy, Schwartz left an opening. He said that if the person promises not to repeat the behavior and finds a way to get his attention, he will unblock them.
The offer stands even if the user continues to strongly dislike him. The stated limit is simple: do not use his replies to spam other people’s followers.
More Context From X
Some replies eagerly pushed back, arguing that frustration with Ripple’s performance or past expectations justified the critical comments. Others framed the blocks as an attempt to avoid accountability.
Schwartz’s post itself focused on the practical problem of irrelevant replies landing in other users’ timelines rather than on any broader debate about XRP or Ripple.
The new policy amounts to a clear boundary on where and how he is willing to engage on the platform. Criticism remains acceptable in relevant spaces. Off-topic insertions into unrelated conversations, whether hostile or not, are now grounds for a block.
Also Read
- Alphabet Shares Surges Over 3% Amid Google’s Launch of Advanced AI Chip Systems
- Europe Can Still Hold Up a $500 Crypto Transfer as the U.S. Retreat Leaves Limits Intact
- Bybit Expands RWA Earn Into Japanese Equities With New JPE Product
- Fed Intervention Expected to Stabilize S&P 500 Amid Market Volatility
