Said the XRP Community is the Best... Ripple CEO Cautions Against XRP Maximalists

▲ XRP/AI-generated image

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse assessed that the XRP community's solidarity is stronger than ever, but warned that a camp mentality that only pushes a specific blockchain hinders industry growth. He also emphasized that Ripple's acquisitions and product expansions are not merely aimed at increasing market speculation but are strategies to enhance XRP's actual utility.

Bitcoinist reported on May 6 that Garlinghouse, in an interview with CoinDesk at Consensus 2026, evaluated the XRP community as one of the most tenacious and powerful forces in the virtual asset industry. Garlinghouse stated that the virtual asset industry has moved past the era when it was considered a reputational risk in traditional finance and has entered a phase of closer integration with institutional frameworks.

Garlinghouse recalled an experience meeting a central bank official in Davos, stating, “I remember meeting a central bank official from another country when I first went to Davos. He had met him before. He said, ‘I’m surprised you’re here. Virtual assets are still a bad word here.’ That was about seven years ago.”

Garlinghouse credited the XRP community as the core driving force that endured regulatory conflicts, market downturns, and long product development cycles. He said, “Speaking of the XRP Army, one of the greatest things about virtual assets in general is the community behind it. These are people who see an opportunity to re-architect financial infrastructure using technology that lowers costs and increases speed. This aspect is like a liberation. The XRP Army has been an incredibly strong group of supporters.”

Garlinghouse also mentioned his recent experience attending XRP Las Vegas. He said, “That community was the most vibrant and active it has ever been. It was truly spectacular.” Bitcoinist reported that this remark demonstrates that the activity of XRP supporters has not weakened despite regulations and market volatility.

However, Garlinghouse pointed out that the power of the community and the logic of factionalism should be distinguished. He stated, “I have told that community and the entire virtual asset community that factionalism is bad for our industry. I have never been an XRP maxi. People out there think it will not be a single-chain world. It will be a multi-chain world.”

Garlinghouse emphasized that while Ripple has played a crucial supportive role in the XRP ecosystem, it does not control XRP. He explained, “Ripple has always been the most interested supporter of the XRP ecosystem. We hold a lot of XRP, but that does not give us control over XRP. The way that structure works is not proof-of-stake.”

Ripple’s recent acquisition strategy is also linked to expanding XRP’s utility. Garlinghouse explained that transactions, including the entry into prime brokerage through Hidden Road, are measures to make XRP more easily usable as collateral across institutional platforms. He said, “Every acquisition we’ve made, everything we’re building, is focused on how we accelerate XRP’s adoption, utility, liquidity, and trust.”

Garlinghouse also touched upon the use of artificial intelligence. He stated that Ripple uses AI across finance, marketing, product targeting, and engineering, but is not using it as a pretext for staff reductions. He said, “About 75% of our core code writing is now either aided by AI in some way or written by AI.”

On the regulatory front, he maintained optimism that a U.S. virtual asset bill could advance before the midterm elections. Garlinghouse mentioned recent Senate movements and the possibility of a bill review in May, seeing a high likelihood of bipartisan support in the Senate floor if the bill passes committee. Bitcoinist concluded that Garlinghouse's remarks in the interview simultaneously revealed the XRP community's solidarity, a multi-chain industry perspective, and a strategy for expanding institutional utility.

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