Ripple CEO: ‘We Continue To Play Offense’ In Race For US Crypto Leadership

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Well, folks, buckle up because Brad Garlinghouse, the man behind Ripple, just dropped some big news at DC Fintech 2025. Apparently, his company is ready to ride the crypto wave like a surfer on a perfect swell. After all, with the SEC’s chokehold loosening, things are looking a lot more like tailwinds than headwinds. In other words, they’re going full throttle ahead. Hold on tight.

Ripple Aims For US Crypto Leadership

“We’re going to continue to play offense,” Garlinghouse declared, probably with a grin and a wink. Ripple’s ambitions aren’t just about payments anymore. Oh no, now it’s about custody, stablecoins, and apparently collecting companies like Pokémon cards. They recently shelled out $1.25 billion for prime broker Hidden Road and dropped $200 million on enterprise stablecoin provider Rail. And, trust me, they’re not done yet. “More announcements coming soon,” Garlinghouse teased. Of course, he’s confident it’s time to invest. Because, why not?

But where does this confidence come from? Oh, just a little legal win over the SEC. Apparently, Ripple was “the tip of the spear” in the Biden administration’s war on crypto. No big deal. Garlinghouse even claims this courtroom battle helped Ripple’s standing, turning Washington into a crypto-friendlier place. He pointed to the House passing the Clarity Act with surprising bipartisan support, noting how 78 Democrats crossed the aisle to back a Republican bill. Politics, am I right? It’s almost like the “pro-email” party suddenly teamed up with the “anti-email” folks. Can’t make this stuff up.

In a rare moment of bluntness, Garlinghouse ripped into the SEC under Gary Gensler. The SEC’s approach was apparently so bad that even a federal judge (appointed by Obama, no less) said they weren’t exactly playing by the law. Ouch. “A dark day for technology in the US,” Garlinghouse sighed. Of course, the irony isn’t lost on him. Regulation-by-enforcement pushed crypto out of the US, leaving it less regulated and without consumer protections. But hey, who needs that when you’ve got some offshore action?

Ripple Has A CEO, XRP Not

Now, Garlinghouse took a moment to clear up some misconceptions about Ripple and XRP. Apparently, some people think XRP has a CEO. So Garlinghouse, in his best ‘I-can’t-believe-I-have-to-explain-this’ tone, corrected them: “Ripple has a CEO – that’s me.” But XRP? It’s just an open-source technology with zero central leadership. Funny how people forget that. “There are probably a hundred CEOs working around the XRP ecosystem,” he added with a shrug.

But here’s the kicker – Ripple doesn’t even control the XRP Ledger’s rule set. “We’ve opposed some amendments to the XRP technology, but guess what? They passed. And that’s okay,” Garlinghouse noted. Open-source, baby. No one’s the boss, except maybe the community, who needs 80% approval to make changes. It’s a wild, free-for-all out there.

Ripple’s Push For A Fed Master Account

But let’s talk about Ripple’s next big dream – banking access. Garlinghouse has a bold suggestion for regulators: Stop pretending the crypto industry shouldn’t have access to the same financial infrastructure as traditional banks. “Hold traditional finance accountable,” he said, pointing out the obvious – if the crypto industry has to follow the same rules, it should get the same perks. “Like a Fed master account, please and thank you,” he added. But no, regulators seem content to keep playing this game of ‘we don’t like you, but we’ll make you play by our rules anyway.’

And let’s not forget Ripple’s application for a national bank charter. If that goes through, Garlinghouse argued, it would de-risk stablecoins. He’s all about setting up crypto on a gold-standard trust license in New York, ready to meet the fancy demands of big institutional clients. Now, if only regulators could stop sitting on their hands.

But of course, some banks are still skittish about crypto, worried about policy changes with each new election cycle. Ah, the classic American political rollercoaster. Garlinghouse isn’t worried, though. “The more time that goes by, the better it is for the industry,” he said, probably with a touch of smirk. The court case gave Ripple the clarity it needed to go full steam ahead, and now, it’s just a matter of time.

In the battle for fintech leadership, Garlinghouse is adamant that the US is playing catch-up. “We leaned into the internet in the late ’90s. Why are we leaning out of blockchain now?” he asked. Well, Brad, maybe because someone forgot to send the memo to Washington. Entrepreneurs are already choosing other jurisdictions with clearer rules, like Europe’s MiCA or the UK’s crypto-friendly stance.

He urged Congress to end “regulation by enforcement” and give the crypto industry some predictability. Because, you know, that’s how you attract innovation. It’s not rocket science, folks. “Most crypto entrepreneurs just want to play by the rules,” Garlinghouse insisted. But when the rules keep changing like a game of musical chairs, it’s hard to play nice.

Garlinghouse wrapped up by reflecting on the darker days when big banks refused to engage with crypto. In fact, he was even “debanked by Citibank during the last four years.” How’s that for a shot to the ego? But he’s not crying over spilled milk. “The ship has sailed,” he said. “Crypto is here to stay in the US financial system. The tsunami is coming. And the government? Well, they can’t stop it now.” 🏄‍♂️

At press time, XRP traded at $2.42. Don’t forget to grab some before the ship leaves the dock. 🚀

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2025-10-16 20:57