Ripple CEO: U.S. can become crypto capital if rules clear

Brad Garlinghouse, chief executive of Ripple, told reporters this week that the United States is nearer to becoming a global center for cryptocurrency trading and services because of recent court decisions and growing momentum in Washington for federal rules.

He pointed to progress in Ripple’s long-running lawsuit with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and to increased discussion in Congress about a regulatory framework for digital assets. Garlinghouse said those developments are reducing legal uncertainty that kept some firms and investors on the sidelines.

He argued a clearer federal framework would let companies expand U.S. operations and attract investment and jobs. On the court case, he noted a federal judge issued a partial ruling last year finding some programmatic sales of XRP did not meet the legal test for securities, while other questions, including institutional sales, remain undecided.

“The U.S. can be the crypto capital once the rules are clear and consistently enforced,” Garlinghouse said.

Industry leaders have urged lawmakers to assign primary oversight to a single regulator or to create a distinct regime for digital assets. Several competing bills in Congress propose different allocations of oversight and compliance requirements for exchanges, custody providers and token issuers.

Regulators have signaled different priorities, with some emphasizing investor protection and others focusing on market structure and innovation. Garlinghouse described Ripple’s approach as prioritizing compliance and engagement with policymakers, and indicated the company is prepared to increase its U.S. presence if regulators provide predictable rules.

Analysts say clearer rules could affect where trading, custody and infrastructure firms base operations. Garlinghouse highlighted potential job growth in technology, compliance and payments if companies scale in a predictable legal environment.

Founded in 2012, Ripple develops software for tokenized payments and uses the XRP token as part of its network. The company has been in litigation with the SEC since 2020 over whether XRP sales were unregistered securities offerings.

He urged Congress and regulators to act soon to provide statutory clarity, arguing that judicial guidance combined with legislative standards would create conditions for more hiring and investment in the United States.