News View Non-AMP

‘Addicted to Trump’s Circle?’ Charles Hoskinson Backs XRP Community, Slams Ripple CEO on Regulation

Published by
Anjali Belgaumkar

Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano, has described the XRP community as “great people” while openly questioning why Brad Garlinghouse, chief executive of Ripple, supports the US crypto Clarity Act.

In an interview with CoinDesk, Hoskinson said the disagreement is about policy direction, not personal conflict, and stressed that he has no issues with the XRP Ledger community.

“No Problem With the XRP Army”

Hoskinson said the XRP community has been under intense pressure for years because of Ripple’s legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. That history, he said, has made parts of the community highly sensitive to criticism of Ripple’s leadership.

He added that any pushback he receives is often misunderstood as an attack on the XRP ecosystem itself, rather than a disagreement over regulation and legislation.

Why Hoskinson Opposes the Clarity Act

Hoskinson said the Clarity Act started with a solid foundation but changed significantly after more than 100 amendments were added. He argued that the revised version could classify most crypto assets as securities by default, forcing projects to seek permission from regulators to operate.

According to Hoskinson, the bill could hurt decentralized finance, limit innovation for layer-1 blockchains, and mainly benefit large institutions and banks. He said it provides little real clarity for most crypto projects and could be used against the industry in the future.

Political Risks Ahead

Hoskinson also warned that shifting US political control could increase regulatory pressure. He cited polling that suggests Democrats could regain control of Congress in 2026, giving regulators more influence over rulemaking if the Clarity Act becomes law.

He said this could allow authorities to tighten rules further and potentially restrict decentralized finance using the bill’s current structure.

Direct Criticism of Ripple CEO

Hoskinson questioned why Garlinghouse continues to support the bill, suggesting political influence may be a factor. He said:

“So, I don’t understand why Brad would be a proponent of this. Maybe he’s gotten addicted to hanging out with Donald Trump and being in that circle, but it’s not good for the industry.”

“Bad Laws Are Worse Than No Laws”

Hoskinson said unclear or poorly written legislation is more dangerous than no regulation at all. He argued that fighting issues in court is preferable to accepting rules that could give regulators broad power over crypto markets.

Anjali Belgaumkar

Writer by choice, CryptoCurrency Writer, and Researcher by chance. Currently, focusing on financial news and analysis, as well as cryptocurrency news and data. One may not call me a crypto “Enthusiast” but trust me I'm getting there.

Trust with CoinPedia:

CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

Investment Disclaimer:

All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.

Sponsored and Advertisements:

Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.

Recent Posts

Pi Network News: Pi App Studio Adds Test-Pi Payments and Low-Cost Deployment Option

The Pi Network has introduced a series of updates to its Pi App Studio at…

January 23, 2026

Bitcoin Price Prediction 2026: Is $100K the Next Major Breakout Level?

The price of Bitcoin is currently moving sideways, as traders pause after weeks of volatile…

January 22, 2026

Dogecoin Foundation Launches First U.S. Spot 21Shares Dogecoin ETF on NASDAQ After SEC Approval

House of Doge and merger partner Brag House Holdings announced the launch of a new…

January 22, 2026

Is LINK Price Gearing Up for a Breakout After Equities Go On-Chain?

The LINK price is back in focus in early 2026 as Chainlink expands its role…

January 22, 2026

Could the Bitwise Recovery Thesis Trigger A New ATH for ETH Price?

Bitwise, recently compared the ETH price current setup mirrors the structural recovery seen in early…

January 22, 2026

Stablecoins Will Power Billions of AI Agents, Circle CEO Says at Davos

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire thinks stablecoins have a much bigger role ahead than most realize.…

January 22, 2026