After more than four years of legal battles, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially dropped its lawsuit against Ripple Labs (pending vote of the commission). The case, which was filed in December 2020, accused Ripple of conducting an unregistered securities offering by selling XRP.
Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse 
Brad Garlinghouse
Brad Garlinghouse is an American businessman and a major crypto influencer. He is the CEO of Ripple Labs, which offers cryptocurrency and blockchain solutions. Brad has also worked at Hightail, AOL, and Yahoo in prominent positions.
Ripple Labs has backed several blockchain startups and investors to grow decentralized finance. Brad sees crypto as a tool for financial freedom and has worked with other influencers in this regard.
Quick Facts
Full Name
Bradley Kent Garlinghouse
Birth
06-02-1971, in Topeka, Kansas
Nationality
American
Education
Bachelor's degree in Economics, MBA from Harvard Business School.
Net Worth
$10B (Refer here)
Ripple's native token, XRP is among the top digital assets. As per CoinGape, Brad's company has $100 billion worth of XRP tokens in its reserve. This will help further innovation in Web3 and blockchain projects. As per reports surfing on Binance’s blog, Brad Garlinghouse may step down as CEO of Ripple to join the Crypto Advisory Council, which is led by President Trump. This significant event will boost the adoption of decentralized finance and blockchain growth.
Brad Garlinghouse: Trivia
2007: Served as Senior VP at Yahoo!, heading communications and consumer products.
2012: Became CEO of Hightail, leading digital file-sharing innovations.
2015: Joined Ripple as COO to push blockchain adoption in cross-border payments.
2017: Became CEO of Ripple, driving XRP adoption and blockchain partnerships.
2020: Led Ripple’s defense against the SEC lawsuit over XRP’s security status.
2021: Expanded Ripple’s ODL (On-Demand Liquidity) network for global crypto payments.
2023: Got a partial success against the SEC, declaring XRP as not a security.
2024: Continue leading Ripple in CBDC collaborations and global blockchain finance.
2025: May join Trump's Crypto Advisory Council to set regulations.
Notable Works & Achievements by Brad Garlinghouse
Year
Achievements
Details
2003
Wrote the 'Peanut Butter Manifesto' at Yahoo!
Highlighted Yahoo!'s lack of focus in operations.
2015
Joined Ripple as Chief Operating Officer
Took measures to integrate blockchain technology into banking systems.
2017
Appointed CEO of Ripple
Expanded Ripple's global partnerships, enhancing cross-border payment solutions.
2020
Named in Forbes' List of Wealthiest in Cryptocurrency
Recognized for significant contributions to the crypto industry.
2023
Legal Victory in SEC vs. Ripple Case
Achieved a favorable ruling impacting cryptocurrency regulations.
Useful Links To Connect with Brad Garlinghouse
Platform
Link
X (formerly Twitter)
https://twitter.com/bgarlinghouse
LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradgarlinghouse
Ripple’s Website
https://ripple.com/leadership/brad-garlinghouse/
EntrepreneurInvestorChief Executive OfficerBoard Member
expressed relief and pride as he reflected on the outcome. “It’s over,” Garlinghouse said, explaining how the case marked a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for clarity in the cryptocurrency industry. “Looking back on four years ago, it’s clear to me that this case was flawed from the start. It was the first major shot fired in the war against crypto.”
Garlinghouse went on to explain that, while Ripple faced huge challenges, the company always believed it was on the right side of history. “I knew we weren’t on the wrong side of the law, and I believed we’d ultimately be proven right. Today’s outcome is a victory for innovation and a long-overdue surrender by the SEC under Chairman Gary Gensler.”
This decision is seen as a major win for the cryptocurrency industry, as it represents the first successful fight against the SEC’s broad interpretation of securities laws applied to digital assets. Garlinghouse credited Ripple’s resources, determination, and grit for pushing back against regulatory agencies.
For many in the crypto community, the SEC’s action was seen as an effort to intimidate the industry, using arguments that they claimed were meant to protect investors but ultimately did more harm than good. As the crypto industry continues to grow, Ripple’s victory signals a turning point in regulatory efforts, reinforcing the need for clearer guidelines that support innovation without stifling progress.
