In a recent address to the XRP community, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse underscored the central role of XRP in the company’s vision, calling it the firm’s “North Star” and vital to its raison d’être. Speaking during the XRP Community Day, Garlinghouse emphasized that the various initiatives undertaken by Ripple—ranging from Ripple Payments to Ripple Treasury—are all designed to enhance the utility, trust, and liquidity surrounding XRP and the XRP Ledger.
As of now, XRP holds a prominent position in the cryptocurrency market, ranking as the fourth-largest digital asset with a market capitalization of approximately $84 billion. Currently trading at $1.38, XRP has seen a dramatic decline of 62% since it reached an all-time high of $3.65 in July 2025, as per CoinGecko data.
Garlinghouse elaborated on Ripple’s mission, stating, “Ripple’s reason for existence is driving success around XRP and the XRP ecosystem.” He expressed confidence in the company’s ability to develop products and services that meet customer needs while contributing to the broader XRP ecosystem.
Looking ahead, Garlinghouse laid out his belief that a cryptocurrency firm will eventually achieve a valuation surpassing $1 trillion, a milestone that only a handful of global corporations, such as Nvidia, Apple, and Alphabet, have reached. He suggested that Ripple could potentially be among those firms if it successfully navigates opportunities within the XRP ecosystem.
In November, Ripple secured $500 million in funding from prominent financial institutions, including Citadel Securities and Fortress Investment Group, resulting in a valuation of about $40 billion. To reach a $1 trillion valuation, Ripple’s market cap would need to increase roughly 25 times.
Last year, Ripple took significant steps to expand its operations, investing billions in strategic acquisitions to enhance its product offerings. Notable deals included the $1.25 billion acquisition of prime brokerage Hidden Road and the $1 billion purchase of treasury management firm GTreasury, among others.
Looking forward, Garlinghouse indicated that Ripple’s focus this year would pivot towards integration rather than further acquisitions, signaling that major deals are unlikely in the immediate future. However, he hinted that there might be more activity on that front in the latter half of the year.
Garlinghouse also addressed the recent volatility in the cryptocurrency market, describing it as “frustrating.” He urged attendees to adopt a broader perspective, suggesting that while the market has faced challenges—evident in the declines of XRP and Bitcoin by 33% and 27% in the past month—there remains a significant opportunity to revamp and enhance the existing financial infrastructure.
He concluded with a message of optimism regarding the long-term prospects of cryptocurrencies, urging the community to remain focused on the vast potential that lies ahead.
