Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz has dismissed allegations that the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a centralized network controlled by Ripple. The claims, made by Justin Bons, founder of Cyber Capital, suggested that XRPL and other networks like Stellar and Algorand fail to meet decentralization standards. Bons criticized XRPL's Unique Node List (UNL) mechanism, asserting it grants Ripple excessive control over network consensus. Schwartz countered these claims, arguing that XRPL operates through distributed validators and a consensus mechanism, not unilateral corporate authority. He emphasized that XRPL's model differs fundamentally from Bitcoin's proof-of-work system, with nodes independently verifying transactions. Schwartz also highlighted that XRPL avoids transaction discrimination, unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum, where transaction reordering and prioritization occur. He maintained that XRPL's structure prevents malicious censorship or double-spending, reinforcing its decentralized nature.