Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, has outlined the company’s ambitious target of reaching a $1 billion revenue run rate by the end of 2026, a goal that does not factor in any $XRP that Ripple holds on its balance sheet. This distinction is significant, especially given the ongoing discussions about the relationship between Ripple’s core business and the $XRP token. Garlinghouse’s statement positions Ripple firmly as a fintech infrastructure provider, focusing on generating income from its products, clients, and services.
In a notable move, Ripple has expanded its operational scope significantly in the past year. In 2025, the company acquired prime broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, a transaction that enhances its offerings by including credit, clearing, and prime brokerage services for large institutional clients. Hidden Road boasts an impressive annual clearing volume of approximately $3 trillion across various markets. This acquisition underpins Ripple USD, or $RLUSD, which the company promotes for enterprise settlement and collateral purposes.
Ripple has ambitious plans for $RLUSD, tying it into new payment solutions that involve artificial intelligence. These developments are designed to cater to banks and firms looking for faster settlement times, improved account control, and better access to digital assets through regulated systems, rather than targeting retail markets directly.
Despite the fluctuations in the price of $XRP, the demand for the token appears to operate independently of Ripple’s core revenue generation. Recently, $XRP was trading around $1.15, while linked ETF products saw their fifth consecutive week of inflows, totaling about $10.68 million even as Bitcoin and Ethereum experienced outflows. This reflects investor confidence in $XRP that is detached from the day-to-day movements in Ripple’s business operations. By making it clear that the revenue goal excludes $XRP, Garlinghouse emphasizes a clearer framework for banks, payment companies, and corporate treasury officials to evaluate Ripple’s performance.
Regulatory developments are also crucial to Ripple’s 2026 strategy. The company is closely monitoring legislative progress related to digital assets in the U.S. For example, the CLARITY Act recently passed the Senate Banking Committee with a 15-9 vote. Although more work is needed before it reaches the full Senate, including potential merging with provisions from the Agriculture Committee, Garlinghouse supports clearer regulatory guidelines. He argues that banks need legal certainty to deepen their involvement in cryptocurrency services. Such regulations could create a more friendly environment for Ripple’s offerings, including payments, custody solutions, liquidity management, and token settlements.
Additionally, Ripple is venturing into automated payment solutions. The recent launch of the XRPL AI Starter Kit enables AI agents to utilize both $XRP and $RLUSD for transactions via the x402 protocol, minimizing the need for human intervention. This innovation allows software agents to perform tasks such as creating wallets, checking balances, tracking transactions, and facilitating payments seamlessly.
As Ripple continues to implement its growth strategies, the interplay between regulatory advancements and innovative solutions will likely play a pivotal role in shaping its future trajectory in the fintech landscape.
