Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse forecasts a strong 2025, driven by strategic acquisitions and regulatory advancements, setting the stage for continued growth into 2026.
What to Know:
- Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse forecasts a strong 2025, driven by strategic acquisitions and regulatory advancements, setting the stage for continued growth into 2026.
- This outlook is framed against the backdrop of broader crypto adoption and Ripple’s focus on building long-term value through real-world utility.
- The emphasis on XRP and RLUSD highlights Ripple’s vision for transforming global finance, which is relevant for institutional investors monitoring digital asset infrastructure and adoption.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has set an optimistic tone heading into 2026, reflecting on what he views as a landmark year for the company. His remarks, delivered alongside Ripple’s quarterly shareholder update, emphasize strategic expansion and regulatory progress as key drivers. This long-term vision, particularly for XRP and RLUSD, signals Ripple’s commitment to building durable financial infrastructure rather than chasing short-term market trends.
Factors Behind Ripple’s 2025 Success
Garlinghouse attributes Ripple’s momentum to deliberate, multi-year investments aimed at realizing the “Internet of Value.” Strategic acquisitions and a growing regulatory footprint are central to this progress. The company’s focus remains on XRP as a foundational element for efficient and low-cost global value transfers.
Strategic Acquisitions
Key to Ripple’s expansion in 2025 were the acquisitions of Ripple Prime (formerly Hidden Road) and GTreasury. The acquisition of GTreasury, valued at $1 billion, and Ripple Prime, at $1.25 billion, significantly enhance Ripple’s ability to modernize cross-border value movement.
Garlinghouse emphasized that these deals accelerate Ripple’s core mission, with XRP remaining central to enabling fast, efficient, and low-cost value transfers across global markets.
Growing Regulatory Footprint
Ripple’s expanding regulatory portfolio is another critical advantage, including the addition of a UK Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license. This positions Ripple to capitalize on opportunities in 2026. A comprehensive licensing portfolio is increasingly important in attracting institutional capital and fostering trust in the digital asset space.
Ripple Focuses on the Long-Term Potential of XRP and RLUSD
Ripple’s strategy prioritizes patience and long-term development over short-term market cycles. Garlinghouse emphasized the importance of building crypto infrastructure and modernizing legacy payment systems, recognizing that these transformations take time. The focus is on the real-world use cases of XRP and RLUSD, prioritizing sustainable progress over speculative trends.
This long-term perspective is crucial for institutional investors who prioritize assets with clear utility and the potential for deep integration into the financial system.

XRP entered 2026 with notable bullish momentum, experiencing a surge of over 20% in the early days of the year, reaching $2.41. While it has since retraced, it is trading at $2.08, reflecting an 11.6% year-to-date increase. Additionally, RLUSD, Ripple’s native stablecoin, has surpassed a $1 billion market cap within a year of its launch, reaching approximately $1.3 billion.
Implications for Institutional Investors
Ripple’s strategic moves and regulatory advancements have significant implications for institutional investors. The acquisitions of Ripple Prime and GTreasury enhance Ripple’s capabilities in cross-border payments and treasury management, areas of increasing interest for institutions seeking to leverage blockchain technology. The focus on regulatory compliance and licensing also reduces risk and increases the attractiveness of XRP and RLUSD as potential investment vehicles.
Conclusion
Brad Garlinghouse’s outlook for 2026 reflects a strategic emphasis on long-term value creation and real-world utility. With key acquisitions and regulatory progress in 2025, Ripple is positioning itself as a major player in the evolving digital asset landscape. The continued development and adoption of XRP and RLUSD will be critical to watch as Ripple executes its vision for transforming global finance.
Related: XRP Futures Signal Big Market Push
Source: Original article
Quick Summary
Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse forecasts a strong 2025, driven by strategic acquisitions and regulatory advancements, setting the stage for continued growth into 2026. This outlook is framed against the backdrop of broader crypto adoption and Ripple’s focus on building long-term value through real-world utility.
Source
Information sourced from official Ripple publications, institutional research, regulatory documentation and reputable crypto news outlets.
Author
Ripple Van Winkle is a cryptocurrency analyst and founder of XRP Right Now. He has been active in the crypto space for over 8 years and has generated more than 25 million views across YouTube covering XRP daily.
Editorial Note
Opinions are the author's alone and for informational purposes only. This publication does not provide investment advice.

