Bitcoin is climbing towards new all-time highs, with a major breakout on the horizon. A key driver of this upward momentum is a recent executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump 
Donald Trump
Donald Trump is an American former president politician, businessman, and media personality, who served as the 45th president of the U.S. between 2017 to 2021. Trump earned a Bachelor of science in economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1968. Trump won the 2016 presidential election as the Republican Party nominee against Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton while losing the popular vote. As president, Trump ordered a travel ban on citizens from several Muslim-majority countries, diverted military funding toward building a wall on the U.S.–Mexico border, and implemented a family separation policy. Trump has remained a prominent figure in the Republican Party and is considered a likely candidate for the 2024 presidential election
President
which includes the creation of a U.S. government Bitcoin Reserve. This move has raised excitement in the crypto world, particularly for Bitcoin enthusiasts.
However, amidst the Bitcoin Reserve news, XRP is facing a lot of heat on social media. Pierre Rochard, VP of Research at Riot Platforms, has claimed that the biggest challenge to the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR) isn’t the Fed, Treasury, or banks—it’s Ripple. Rochard argues that Ripple is spending millions of dollars lobbying politicians to block the SBR, fearing it could hurt their marketing narrative and push their own agenda for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
Ripple-Bitcoin Clash Heats Up
Rochard even accused Ripple of trying to sabotage Bitcoin mining under the Biden administration and said Ripple has now “declared war” by attempting to block the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. According to him, Ripple should have focused on its own business and not interfered with the SBR.
Face the facts: Ripple / XRP has been the leading source of anti-bitcoin misinformation for more than a decade. They have aggressively lobbied policymakers around the world to try to ban bitcoin mining. Weaponizing woke ESG narratives to promote their centralized token,
Rochard said.
In response, Ripple 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
fired back, stating that their efforts are actually boosting the chances of a crypto strategic reserve, which could include Bitcoin. Garlinghouse stressed that Ripple’s actions align with the broader goals of the U.S. government to support American companies and technologies.
