Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has firmly countered assertions that the company is distancing itself from $XRP, reaffirming Ripple’s commitment to the cryptocurrency. During an interview with journalist Eleanor Terrett at the $XRP Las Vegas conference, Garlinghouse asserted that Ripple remains the largest holder of $XRP, emphasizing that the firm is deeply invested in the token’s long-term success.
He described it as both “funny and strange” that there are lingering doubts about Ripple’s dedication to $XRP. “We are the most interested party in seeing $XRP succeed,” he stated, highlighting that Ripple holds more $XRP than any other entity globally. This positions the company as a key player in the cryptocurrency’s future.
Garlinghouse elaborated on Ripple’s strategy, which aims to enhance the utility, liquidity, and trust of $XRP within the financial industry. He reiterated the company’s ongoing efforts to make $XRP the “most useful digital asset,” while simultaneously providing services and products to financial institutions and capital markets around the world.
In response to concerns that Ripple’s expansion into stablecoins could potentially overshadow $XRP, Garlinghouse maintained that these initiatives, while seemingly separate, ultimately support the broader ecosystem that includes $XRP. He acknowledged the complexities in business decision-making, asserting that not all strategies have a direct trajectory. However, he remained confident that Ripple’s long-term goals are deeply intertwined with fostering greater liquidity and adoption of $XRP.
Further discussing Ripple’s recent moves, Garlinghouse noted that Ripple Treasury has been aggressively expanding its presence. He shared a humorous anecdote about placing $XRP and Ripple Treasury advertisements along the Las Vegas Strip concurrent with a competitor’s customer conference. In a playful jab at rival Kyriba, Garlinghouse mentioned that Ripple even marketed its services on wrapped buses transporting attendees from the competing venue, drawing laughter from the audience. He also revealed that Ripple’s workforce has grown to approximately 1,500 employees and forecasted 2026 to be a landmark year in various dimensions for the company.
Shifting the conversation towards the broader possibilities of the $XRP Ledger Foundation, Garlinghouse emphasized that many upcoming blockchain applications could evolve independently of Ripple. He highlighted areas such as tokenization and bond settlement, noting that traditional financial systems remain outdated and inefficient, making a transition to on-chain solutions inevitable. Garlinghouse commended early $XRP Ledger developers for creating one of the first decentralized exchanges equipped with built-in tokenization features, setting the foundation for future innovations.
Lastly, he underscored the likelihood of a multi-chain future in which the $XRP Ledger excels in specific capacities, while other blockchain platforms may have advantages in different sectors. Garlinghouse reinforced Ripple’s commitment to facilitating real-world blockchain adoption wherever the $XRP Ledger can contribute meaningful value.
