TLDR
- Brad Garlinghouse said he has never been an XRP maximalist.
- Garlinghouse said XRP remains Ripple’s “North Star” strategy asset.
- He said crypto tribalism is harmful and Bitcoin should also succeed.
- Garlinghouse said the CLARITY Act needs Senate action within two weeks.
- He said AI is helping Ripple grow products and users, not drive layoffs.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said he has never been an XRP maximalist, even as he reaffirmed that XRP remains central to Ripple’s strategy and long-term product development.
Speaking at Consensus Miami, Garlinghouse said the crypto industry will not be built around one blockchain. He said he wants Bitcoin and other networks to succeed, adding that tribalism between crypto communities is harmful for the wider market.
Garlinghouse described XRP as Ripple’s “North Star” and said the company remains accountable to the XRP ecosystem because it is still the largest XRP holder. He said Ripple’s recent acquisitions and product expansion are aimed at increasing XRP adoption, liquidity, and institutional use.
Brad Garlinghouse Rejects XRP Maxi Label
Garlinghouse said he does not view crypto as a one-chain industry. His comments came during a discussion about crypto communities, where he praised the XRP Army for its support while rejecting the idea that Ripple’s success requires other networks to fail.
He said strong communities are one of crypto’s most important features, but added that competition should not turn into attacks between ecosystems.
The Ripple CEO said XRP continues to guide Ripple’s internal strategy, especially in cross-border payments, liquidity, and institutional settlement. However, he said Ripple is also building in a multi-asset environment, including through its RLUSD stablecoin.
RLUSD is designed to support regulated dollar settlement and liquidity. Ripple has presented the stablecoin as a product that works alongside XRP rather than replacing it.
CLARITY Act Timeline Becomes Critical
Garlinghouse also said the next two weeks are important for broader U.S. crypto legislation. He said the chances of passing a bill could fall sharply if the Senate Banking Committee does not move forward with a markup soon.
The House passed its version of the CLARITY Act last year. The bill seeks to define federal oversight of digital assets and divide authority between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The Senate process has moved more slowly. The Senate Agriculture Committee has advanced its version, while the Senate Banking Committee has faced delays tied to stablecoin rewards, conflicts of interest, and illicit finance concerns.
A compromise between Sens. Angela Alsobrooks and Thom Tillis on stablecoin rewards may help move the bill forward. However, the November midterm election calendar adds pressure because lawmakers may soon shift focus toward campaigns.
Garlinghouse said agency guidance alone is not enough because future administrations can reverse policy. He said legislation would give the industry more durable rules.
Ripple CEO Says AI Is Driving Growth
Garlinghouse also addressed layoffs across the crypto and technology sectors linked to artificial intelligence. He said AI is helping Ripple grow faster rather than driving job cuts.
He described AI as a tool for building more products and reaching more users. He said some companies may be using AI as an explanation for broader management decisions, while Ripple sees it as a way to increase productivity.
The comments come as several crypto firms have reduced headcount this year while citing market conditions and AI-driven operational changes.
Garlinghouse’s remarks place Ripple’s current strategy across three areas: XRP liquidity, regulated stablecoin infrastructure, and U.S. crypto policy. He said XRP has received legal clarity through Ripple’s court battle, but other digital assets still need a broader federal framework.
A U.S. judge previously ruled that XRP itself is not inherently a security, though some institutional sales by Ripple violated securities laws. Garlinghouse said that helped XRP, but added that the wider market still needs legislation such as the CLARITY Act.
