Ripple CEO Points to Stablecoins as Key to Crypto’s Next Growth Phase

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said that stablecoins have become a major requirement for businesses seeking faster and more efficient payment solutions.

Highlights 

• * Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse claims that companies are launching their own stablecoins, signaling rising institutional adoption of digital assets.
• Brad Garlinghouse says that it might initially create a short-term fragmentation, but the market will narrow down to significant players. 
• Ripple emphasizes a compliance-first strategy, ensuring transparency, audits, and regulatory alignment. 

Cointelegraph reported that Garlinghouse emphasized that several companies are actively looking for strategies to integrate stablecoins into their operations. When speaking at FII Priority Miami 2026, he noted that corporate leaders, including directors and CEOs from Fortune 500 and Fortune 2000, are inquiring about adopting stablecoins with their financial teams, enabling faster, cheaper, and 24/7 global payments. 

Garlinghouse described this as a major opportunity for treasurers and CFOs, similar to the ‘ChatGPT moment’ for the crypto sector. Just like ChatGPT made AI easy for everyone, stablecoins make blockchain practical for businesses by offering the transparency and stability they need for real-world operations.

Bloomberg’s Projections

Bloomberg Intelligence projected that stablecoin flows could grow at a compounded annual rate of 80%, and potentially reach $56.6 trillion by 2030. It would also place stablecoins as a crucial payment tool in global finance. 

Garlinghouse pointed out that stablecoins processed over $33 trillion in trading volume last year, the majority from Tether’s USDt and Circle’s USDC. Ripple entered the stablecoin market in 2024 with the launch of Ripple USD (RLUSD). It also became the 10th largest stablecoin by market cap, valued at $1.4 billion. 

Ripple expanded its blockchain payments infrastructure through strategic acquisitions, such as the purchase of institutional-based prime brokerage Hidden Road for $1.25 billion and corporate treasury platform GTreasury for $1 billion. Galinghouse has been optimistic about Ripple’s performance and has experienced major growth since these acquisitions. 

The Impact of the CLARITY Act  

Brad Garlinghouse also emphasized the importance of the CLARITY Act on the crypto industry. If the act passes Congress and is signed into law, it could accelerate broader blockchain adoption. He also highlighted that the Act must clear U.S. regulations to prevent policy from being used for political purposes. 

“A lot of eyes are on what the US regulation is going to look like and is it going to get done,” Garlinghouse said. “We want to make sure we can’t have another Gary Gensler moment where they try to weaponize policy in a way that is about politics, not about what’s good for the United States.”        

Conclusion 

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says stablecoins are the big catalyst that will drive the whole crypto industry forward. Stablecoin provides several businesses with access to a broader range of blockchain-based services. As mentioned, Bloomberg Intelligence predicts that stablecoin flow could increase at a compounded annual growth rate of 80%, reaching $56.6 trillion by 2030. Stablecoin would also become one of the most important payment tools in global finance.

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