‘Ship Has Sailed’: Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Says US Won’t Return to Hostile Crypto Climate

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has declared that the United States has firmly moved beyond an adversarial regulatory climate for the crypto industry and will not revert to previous levels of hostility, even if there are changes in political leadership. He points to the significant presence of digital assets in the US and ongoing legislative efforts to create a more formal regulatory structure as reasons for his optimism.

Garlinghouse has criticized the barriers faced by crypto firms trying to access Federal Reserve master accounts and has called for consistent application of anti-money laundering and know-your-customer standards across both traditional finance and the crypto sector. He emphasizes that the era of regulatory uncertainty and aggressive enforcement actions—such as those seen under SEC Chair Gary Gensler—has come to an end.

A major turning point was the resolution of the long-running legal battle between the SEC and Ripple regarding XRP. In August 2025, both parties agreed to dismiss their appeals, establishing a definitive legal status for XRP: its sales to retail investors were not considered securities, while some institutional sales were. This legal clarity has removed an important obstacle for the cryptocurrency and has helped boost its value and confidence among investors.

Ripple has also shifted its hiring strategy in response to the improved regulatory outlook. After years of focusing on international growth due to US uncertainties, the company has now concentrated about three-quarters of its open positions in the United States—a signal of its renewed commitment to its home market.

Legal experts in the digital assets space have echoed Garlinghouse’s sentiments, noting a dramatic shift away from “regulation by enforcement” towards a more constructive, acceptance-oriented approach. Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer has also highlighted the need for coordinated regulatory frameworks, warning against fragmented or overly restrictive proposals, especially those that could hinder innovation in decentralized finance (DeFi) and drive development offshore.

Broader political changes have contributed to this shift. Under the Trump administration, US policy made a clear pivot from strict enforcement to promoting innovation, establishing groups dedicated to digital asset policy and ruling out a US central bank digital currency. The aim is to clarify rules, reduce compliance burdens, and encourage greater participation in the digital asset economy.

Despite some ongoing debate in Congress, there is growing consensus that cryptocurrencies are here to stay and that the country is moving towards a stable and supportive regulatory environment. Both the House and Senate are working on comprehensive legislation to guide the market, and the discussion about regulatory jurisdiction—whether by the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission—remains central to shaping the future of crypto in the United States.