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Ripple CEO Sends Strong Signal for XRP from Las Vegas
Ripple CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, once again openly affirms the company's strong commitment to XRP at the Bitcoin 2026 conference, directly responding to narratives claiming Ripple has abandoned its native token.
The announcement comes alongside news that Ripple is aggressively expanding into the Middle East and Africa.
CEO Faces Skepticism
Speaking at the conference in Vegas, Garlinghouse delivered a firm message to critics. He stated that Ripple remains the largest holder of XRP worldwide and will continue to support the success of the token.
“Ripple is highly committed to making XRP the most useful, most liquid, and most trusted digital asset,” Garlinghouse said.
This statement directly addresses ongoing criticism that Ripple has abandoned XRP. Some observers believe the company is more focused on institutional payment solutions like RippleNet and xCurrent, which do not require a token.
Garlinghouse’s statement indicates that institutional adoption and XRP usage are complementary strategies, not competing ones.
Expansion in the Middle East Grows
In addition to its commitment to XRP, Ripple announced the opening of a new regional headquarters at Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai.
This move positions Ripple to expand its operations across the Middle East and Africa. These regions offer significant opportunities for developing payment infrastructure and blockchain technology adoption.
Ripple’s treasury platform processes an annual payment volume of US$12.5 trillion through 13,000 connected banks. Expansion into the Middle East could open additional transaction volumes from financial institutions and payment providers in the region.
XRP Community Defense
Ripple CEO’s statement received a warm reception from XRP community members attending the conference. Years of skepticism regarding Ripple’s commitment to XRP have caused tension between the company and its token holders.
Garlinghouse’s statement serves as both a reaffirmation and a rejection. He emphasized that Ripple’s large holdings of XRP align the company’s interests with those of token holders. Ripple benefits if XRP succeeds.
This alignment contradicts narratives claiming Ripple views XRP as a burden or an old obligation rather than a core strategic asset.
Institutional Adoption and XRP Integration
The CEO’s statement indicates plans to further integrate XRP into institutional payment flows. As more institutions use RippleNet, there are opportunities to include XRP settlement in certain transaction types.
Garlinghouse also emphasized the desire to make XRP the most liquid digital asset. This effort includes building infrastructure to facilitate easy trading and storage of XRP by financial institutions for settlement.
The three main goals mentioned—being the most useful, most liquid, and most trusted—depict XRP’s vision as the primary token for international payment settlement.
Skepticism Remains
however, not all analysts view Ripple’s strategy positively. Some believe XRP’s utility remains limited despite years of development. Others think stablecoins like USDC offer superior payment features.
Ultimately, Ripple’s commitment to XRP’s success must be demonstrated through adoption data. Token holders will assess the company’s sincerity based on increased transaction volume and adoption levels following this announcement.