Ripple’s Brad Garlinghouse Asks, ‘Who Is XRP’s CEO?’

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Ah, the D.C. Fintech Week-where all the movers and shakers of the crypto world gather to clear up misconceptions and, perhaps, create new ones. On this grand occasion, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, in a display of both patience and exasperation, once again addressed the greatest of all confusions: that Ripple somehow controls XRP. Imagine! A company controlling a currency-what a novel thought! 🙄

“Ripple is a company, sure,” Garlinghouse stated, as though trying to explain that water is wet, “but XRP operates as a free-roaming, open-source technology supported by a vast army of independent developers, companies, and-wait for it-users!” It’s almost as if XRP were its own entity, as free as the wind… but with less of the gust and more of the blockchain. 😆

He was quick to point out the absurdity of those who view XRP as some centralized corporation with a single CEO at the helm. “People say, ‘XRP has a CEO.’ Well, who is it, pray tell?” Garlinghouse quipped, his voice tinged with sarcasm, “Ripple has a CEO. That’s me. But there are, let’s say, scores-no, wait-HUNDREDS of other CEOs building around XRP’s ecosystem.” A delightful reminder that in this digital age, everyone’s a CEO, even if no one’s actually in charge. 😜

Ripple’s Legal Tug-of-War and Industry Standing

But wait, there’s more! Garlinghouse also graciously shared a peek into Ripple’s never-ending legal drama with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. After nearly $150 million spent on defending themselves, Ripple finally achieved the holy grail: legal clarity confirming that XRP is NOT a security. Garlinghouse, ever the martyr, noted that this battle wasn’t just about Ripple’s survival but about establishing a clearer regulatory framework for the entire crypto industry. Truly, a sacrifice on the altar of legal understanding. 🙏

Ripple, however, isn’t just concerned with fighting legal battles-it continues to support the creation of a “transparent, multi-chain ecosystem,” because, you know, that’s what companies in the crypto world do. They invest in innovation and pretend to have lofty goals. Garlinghouse confirmed Ripple’s noble mission: to drive “real-world utility through crypto.” Not to control it, of course-heavens no! 🙃

Open-Source Governance: The Dream of Decentralization

And, lest anyone forget, XRP operates under a governance system that’s open-source, as Garlinghouse so eagerly reminded us. Network changes? Not up to Ripple, dear reader! No, they require the approval of a vast majority of validators. How democratic! There were even times when Ripple opposed proposals… and yet, the community, with their collective wisdom, pressed forward and approved them. A nice touch of irony-Ripple, the supposed controlling entity, unable to control the very ecosystem it helped create. What a paradox! 😏

This governance model, Garlinghouse insisted, is one of XRP’s key strengths, allowing it to evolve independently of Ripple’s whims, all while maintaining that much-coveted security and decentralization. So, there you have it-the world of XRP: free, wild, and beautifully out of control. 🌀

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2025-10-16 07:27