Conversations about cryptocurrency often focus on technology, speculation, or regulation. Rarely do they reveal the philosophies that drive the industry’s most influential figures.
In a recent exchange shared by AllInCrypto (@RealAllinCrypto) on X, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Consensys co-founder and CEO Joseph Lubin offered that glimpse.
Their dialogue moved from Bitcoin to the role of cash and government policy. However, one moment defined the difference between them as Garlinghouse’s defense of XRP presented it as a practical solution for real financial challenges.
Brad Garlinghouse of Ripple $XRP vs Joe Lubin CEO of @Consensys for $ETH , here's what they believe in… pic.twitter.com/wMqtnxx2Eo
— ALLINCRYPTO (@RealAllinCrypto) October 27, 2025
Diverging Views on Bitcoin and Cash
Garlinghouse and Lubin began by addressing the nature of Bitcoin. While Garlinghouse described it as “complicated and maybe the future as a store of value,” Lubin took a more academic stance, calling it “an experiment in monetary theory” and “a breakthrough in emergent collaborative systems.”
The exchange captured how each leader views cryptocurrency’s foundation: one from a practical business perspective and the other from a conceptual, technology-driven point of view.
Their discussion then turned to the idea of cash and its evolution. When asked if cash would change over the next five years, Garlinghouse responded, “I don’t think cash is changing dramatically in the next five years.” Lubin countered that “cash will be valuable still, but it may take on different forms.”
This suggests that digital assets, including decentralized cryptocurrencies, could represent that change. For Garlinghouse, stability and real-world integration appear to take precedence over theoretical transformation.
The Case for XRP
The conversation grew more pointed when Garlinghouse was prompted to complete the sentence, “You should invest in XRP because…” Without hesitation, he said, “We’re solving a multi-trillion dollar problem and we’re making a lot of progress towards that.”
His statement captured Ripple’s long-standing argument that XRP is not merely a speculative asset but a utility-driven solution designed to improve global financial transactions. The focus, as Garlinghouse has consistently emphasized, is on efficiency, speed, and cost-effectiveness in cross-border payments, areas where traditional financial systems continue to struggle.
Lubin declined to engage with the investment prompt, saying, “Not even going to answer that.” His avoidance reflected Ethereum’s different orientation as a platform for decentralized applications rather than a product aimed directly at institutional financial solutions.
Toward the end of the video, Garlinghouse dismissed ICOs as “fraud,” contrasting Lubin’s view of them as speculative. Garlinghouse also urged governments to embrace cryptocurrencies for efficiency and said his focus remains “keeping the Ripple momentum going.”