Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse took the stage at XRP Las Vegas this week with a mix of bullish community talk and a blunt warning: the crypto industry needs to ditch the tribalism.
Garlinghouse said the XRP community is at its most active and vibrant point, based on what he saw at the event. But he quickly pivoted to a broader point — that chain maximalism hurts the whole space. The future, he argued, is multi-chain, not single-chain. Ripple's own strategy reflects that: acquisitions like Hidden Road and product expansions are designed to boost XRP's practical use as collateral in institutional markets, not to prop up any one ecosystem.
Warning against tribalism
Garlinghouse didn't mince words. He said tribalism and chain maximalism are bad for the industry. It's a message he's pushed before, but the setting — a dedicated XRP conference — gave it extra weight. He also clarified that Ripple holds a large amount of XRP but does not control it, noting that XRP isn't proof-of-stake. The distinction matters as regulators and critics sometimes conflate corporate holdings with network control.
AI as accelerant, not replacement
One of the more striking numbers from the talk: about 75% of Ripple's core code writing is now enabled or written by AI. Garlinghouse framed it as an accelerant for growth, not a headcount reduction play. The company is using AI to move faster, not to replace developers. That distinction could resonate as the broader tech industry grapples with automation fears.
Legislation hopes
On the policy front, Garlinghouse expressed optimism that US crypto legislation could advance before the midterms. He pointed to Senate momentum and a possible markup in May. If the bill clears committee, he said there's a high likelihood of bipartisan support. That's a notable vote of confidence from a CEO who has spent years fighting regulatory battles in the US.
The timing isn't accidental. With midterm elections approaching, lawmakers may feel pressure to show progress on crypto rules. Garlinghouse's comments suggest Ripple sees a narrow window — and is betting on it.
