XRP Community Day [Live] Updates: Ripple CEO Calls Recent Crypto Sell-Off a Bloodbath, Says XRP Remains a Top Performer

Matt Hougan said the market is experiencing a classic crypto-cycle downturn, with some investors selling ahead of the traditional four-year cycle contributing to the recent pullback. He added that improving macroeconomic conditions and the potential shift toward a rate-cut environment could make the current crypto “winter” shorter than previous downturns.

Alexander Lin, Co-Founder and General Partner at Reforge, said the growth of RLUSD will depend on real-world usage rather than simply adding another stablecoin to the market. He noted that Ripple’s compliance-focused approach could reduce regulatory friction for developers, adding that the combined use of XRP and RLUSD may help accelerate both institutional adoption and broader ecosystem development.

Rob Hadick, General Partner at Dragonfly Capital, said the launch of RLUSD is focused on “bootstrapping” adoption as the market has long been dominated by major issuers such as Circle and Tether. He added that recent developments, including Ripple’s strategic acquisitions and ongoing technology improvements, could create a “snowball effect” as traditional financial institutions begin exploring real-world usage.

Brad Garlinghouse said recent constructive discussions with policymakers have increased the likelihood that the proposed crypto market structure legislation, often referred to as the “Clarity Act,” will move forward this year. He said that Ripple has been closely engaged in policy conversations, adding that he believes there is roughly a 75% chance the bill advances toward becoming law.

Brad Garlinghouse said he expects Ripple to continue evolving as a global platform company by 2030, focused on expanding financial infrastructure services while strengthening trust across its ecosystem. He emphasized that driving utility, liquidity, and real-world adoption of XRP will remain central to Ripple’s long-term mission.

Brad Garlinghouse said the expansion of crypto ETFs will play a major role in accelerating institutional participation across the sector, pointing to strong investor demand in public markets. He said that XRP-linked investment products were among the fastest to reach $1 billion in assets and now stand near $1.5 billion, signaling rising institutional appetite alongside the success of Bitcoin ETF offerings.

Brad Garlinghouse praised the resilience of the XRP community, saying he is “in awe” of supporters who have stayed with the ecosystem through both strong and challenging market cycles. He added that boosting activity around lending protocols on the XRP Ledger is a key priority for Ripple as it works to expand community-driven utility and on-chain engagement.

Brad Garlinghouse said the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) banking charter provides a stronger regulatory foundation for RLUSD, enabling more robust compliance standards and added bankruptcy protections. He said that Ripple’s strategy prioritizes becoming one of the most regulated and compliance-focused players in the sector, positioning RLUSD as a leader under the emerging regulatory framework.

At XRP Community Day, Brad Garlinghouse said XRP remains the “north star” guiding Ripple’s approach to institutional adoption. He said that the company’s institutional strategy is centered on expanding liquidity and real-world utility around XRP and the XRP Ledger, with ongoing initiatives designed to strengthen enterprise use cases and on-chain financial infrastructure.

Brad Garlinghouse said Ripple is entering 2026 with a more aggressive growth strategy after spending the past two and a half years largely “playing defense.” He said that the company is now focused on expanding its global presence, making up for lost time through major acquisitions and new strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating ecosystem growth.

Speaking at XRP Community Day, Brad Garlinghouse described the recent market downturn as a “bloodbath,” noting that the sell-off extended beyond crypto, with assets such as gold and silver also declining. He said the current drawdown is comparable to the 2022 bear cycle but said that XRP remains one of the best-performing major cryptocurrencies this year, second only to Bitcoin, while Bitcoin itself has remained largely flat since the U.S. election period.

Brad Garlinghouse officially kicked off XRP Community Day by welcoming XRP holders, supporters, and builders from around the world, emphasizing that the event is dedicated to the strength and growth of the XRP community. He said that the day is designed to celebrate the people driving the ecosystem forward and to highlight the community’s role in shaping XRP’s future.

Excitement is building around XRP Community Day as supporters point to the scale of the two-day global event, which is drawing tens of thousands of participants across multiple sessions worldwide. Many community members say the turnout underscores the strong backing behind the XRP ecosystem and growing enthusiasm surrounding Ripple and its expanding global initiatives.

Ripple has announced a new partnership with Aviva Investors to tokenize traditional investment funds on the XRP Ledger. More details about the initiative will be shared during XRP Community Day, featuring discussions with Markus Infanger and Alastair Sewell on the future of tokenized finance.

XRP fell 2.91% to $1.37 over the past 24 hours, slightly underperforming the broader crypto market as risk-off sentiment intensified. The decline comes as Bitcoin dropped about 2.1%, with extreme fear across the market driving synchronized selling among major digital assets.

Building on its inaugural year, XRP Community Day returns with a strong focus on how XRP is being used today and where it is headed next. Sessions across EMEA, the Americas, and APAC will cover regulated investment products, potential ETFs, wrapped XRP, expanding DeFi applications, and the continued evolution of on-chain infrastructure expected through 2026.

XRP Community Day is set to begin shortly, with Brad Garlinghouse expected to open the event by outlining XRP’s expanding role in global financial infrastructure and capital markets.