The crypto world often thrives on speculation, but Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, has no interest in hype. In a recent interview clip shared by John Squire, Garlinghouse set the record straight on one of the industry’s longest-standing confusions: the difference between Ripple, XRP, and the XRP Ledger.
His explanation comes as Ripple positions itself at the heart of the next evolution in banking and liquidity systems — where XRP could play a foundational role in powering real-time financial infrastructure.
The Distinction: Ripple vs. XRP
For years, even industry insiders have conflated Ripple with XRP. Garlinghouse addressed this directly, noting that “there is Ripple as a company, XRP is the digital asset, and there is an XRP Ledger.” He explained that Ripple is a Silicon Valley technology company founded in 2012, focused on developing payment infrastructure for financial institutions.
XRP, by contrast, is an open-source digital asset that operates independently on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a decentralized blockchain network validated through consensus rather than proof of work or proof of stake.
BRAD JUST SAID IT: #XRP will power the new U.S. banking system
“Global liquidity is the foundation of the future of finance.”
This isn’t hype — it’s execution.$XRP = the engine of real utility.
#XRPArmy#Ripplepic.twitter.com/KblCPhhE0u
— John Squire (@TheCryptoSquire) October 15, 2025
Garlinghouse emphasized the importance of this distinction, explaining that Ripple merely participates in the development of the XRP ecosystem but does not control it. “Ripple is an important participant in the development of the XRP ecosystem,” he said, “but obviously there are many others, as you would expect, which are part of an open-source community.”
Ripple’s Broader Vision: Execution, Not Hype
In his response, Garlinghouse reiterated that Ripple’s strategy has always focused on real-world utility and global liquidity — not price speculation. He highlighted that XRP’s efficiency in speed, scalability, and cost makes it particularly suitable for cross-border payments, an area where legacy banking systems continue to struggle.
“We feel it works well for cross-border payments,” Garlinghouse stated, underlining Ripple’s mission to modernize the infrastructure that underpins the movement of value.
The CEO’s remarks align with Ripple’s recent developments, including its U.S. national bank charter application, expansion of liquidity hubs, and the launch of its RLUSD stablecoin in late 2024 — all key moves in integrating blockchain-based liquidity with traditional finance.
Regulatory Clarity and Future Prospects
The clarification also comes after Ripple successfully navigated years of legal uncertainty. With its long-running SEC case fully resolved, Ripple now operates on more solid regulatory ground, allowing banks and institutional players to explore XRP’s role in global liquidity management.
This new phase signals a potential shift toward a regulated crypto-finance hybrid system, where Ripple’s technology and XRP serve as connective tissue between traditional banking and blockchain settlement rails.
A Chance to Educate, Not Just Debate
When asked whether the ongoing confusion between Ripple and XRP frustrates him, Garlinghouse admitted it does — sometimes. “It annoys me when there’s someone I feel should know the differences,” he said, adding that it can also serve as “a chance to educate.”
His tone reflected a mix of frustration and optimism, underscoring his commitment to transparency and understanding.
The interview shared by John Squire offers one of Garlinghouse’s clearest articulations yet of Ripple’s structure, purpose, and long-term vision. His message was unmistakable: XRP is the engine of utility, not just a speculative asset — and Ripple is executing a plan to make it the foundation of the new global liquidity system.