Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated at Consensus 2026 that he has never considered himself an XRP maximalist and that tribalism hurts the broader crypto industry.
“I’ve never been an XRP maxi,” Garlinghouse said. “Tribalism is bad for our industry. It’s not going to be a one-chain world. It’s going to be a multi-chain world. I want to see Bitcoin be successful.”
The comments came during a discussion about Ripple’s brand and the XRP community, which the interviewer described as one of the most loyal followings in the crypto space.
Garlinghouse was open about the value the community has provided while drawing a distinction between community support and chain maximalism.
“The XRP army has been an unbelievable supportive group of allies,” he said. He described XRP Las Vegas, which he attended the previous week, as “the most vibrant, the most active that community has ever been.”
He also explained how far the industry has come. Seven years ago, a central banker he met at Davos expressed surprise at seeing him there, noting crypto was still considered a bad word. That conversation, Garlinghouse said, reflects how dramatically institutional perception has shifted.
On the question of Ripple’s relationship with XRP, Garlinghouse addressed a common misconception directly. Ripple owns a significant amount of XRP but that ownership does not translate into control over the network.
“That doesn’t give us control of XRP. We’re not proof of stake and how that architecture works,” he said.
He described Ripple’s role as that of the most interested advocate in the XRP ecosystem, with every acquisition and product decision evaluated through a single lens.
“How do we accelerate the adoption, the usefulness of XRP, the liquidity of XRP, and the trust of XRP,” Garlinghouse said. “Hold us accountable. Make us do the work.”
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.
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 content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.
Bitcoin enters the third quarter still in a bear market, with technical analysis suggesting one…
The BTC price slipped below $58,500 today, extending losses and breaking through the closely watched…
Most crypto projects burn budget on services that look good in reports but don't generate…
Sometimes crypto markets behave like an impatient crowd at a concert. The stage is packed,…
Stablecoin wars were always going to arrive eventually. They just arrived wearing suits today. As…
XRP is holding the $1 level heading into July, but only just. The token is…
