TLDR
- Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse urged lawmakers to advance the Clarity Act to reduce regulatory uncertainty.
- He said imperfect legislation would still offer better guidance than the current enforcement-driven approach.
- Garlinghouse criticized the SEC for relying on enforcement actions instead of clear rulemaking.
- He stated that the lack of clear rules created confusion for digital asset companies.
- Garlinghouse reflected on Ripple’s legal battle and said the company had the resources to challenge regulators.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse urged lawmakers to advance crypto legislation as the Senate weighed action this week. He criticized the US Securities and Exchange Commission for creating uncertainty through enforcement actions. He said clearer rules, even if imperfect, would improve current conditions.
Garlinghouse spoke at the Consensus 2026 conference during a fireside chat with Bullish CEO Tom Farley. He called on crypto firms to unite behind pending legislation. He said the industry should prioritize progress over perfection as the Senate reviews the bill.
Fireside: @Ripple@bgarlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, joins @ThomasFarley to discuss the future of global payments and crypto markets.
📍 Anchorage Digital Mainstage, 11:05am pic.twitter.com/VseIHlCZuC
— #Consensus2026 → Miami (@consensus2026) May 5, 2026
Clarity Act Debate Intensifies in Washington
Garlinghouse backed the passage of the Clarity Act despite ongoing disagreements within the sector.
He said, “Perfection is the enemy of progress,” and urged companies to accept compromise. He added, “Do I think the Clarity Act is perfect? Hell no.” He then challenged critics to name any flawless law. He argued that even imperfect rules would reduce uncertainty and support growth.
Earlier, Farley told industry participants to “shut the hell up” and to support finalizing the measure. Garlinghouse echoed that message and warned that resistance could delay regulatory certainty. He said disputes over stablecoin yields and ethics should not stall progress. Meanwhile, crypto-native firms seek clearer provisions, while traditional financial institutions raise concerns about competitive balance.
SEC Faces Criticism Over Enforcement Approach
Garlinghouse directed strong criticism at the SEC, especially under former Chair Gary Gensler. He said the agency relied on enforcement rather than clear rulemaking.
He stated, “We’ve been living particularly with a not well-intended SEC under Gary Gensler with chaos.”
He argued that companies faced constant uncertainty about regulatory focus. He said this environment forced firms into defensive positions rather than encouraging innovation.
Reflecting on Ripple’s legal fight with the SEC, he said the agency misjudged its target.
He stated, “One of the key strategic mistakes the SEC made was picking on Ripple because we were strong enough to stand up to them.”
He suggested regulators might have secured precedent by pursuing smaller firms. He added that federal agencies operate with an “unlimited budget” compared to private companies. He said many crypto firms would have settled or closed under similar pressure.
Garlinghouse said Ripple continues to expand through acquisitions and partnerships. He said the company integrates traditional financial systems with blockchain technology. He noted that clearer rules could accelerate adoption in cross-border payments and tokenized real-world assets. He concluded, “The opportunity is massive,” as lawmakers consider the next steps on the Clarity Act.
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