Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Reveals the Company Is in Talks with the SEC to Settle Their Legal Dispute, Possibly with an XRP Payment

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has revealed that the company is in talks with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about settling their legal dispute

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has shared an optimistic outlook for crypto in an interview with Fox Business on April 11, during which he also revealed that the company is in talks with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to settle their legal dispute, possibly with a payment in XRP.

Garlinghouse described the discussions as a “breakthrough moment” for Ripple, adding that the company may pay the SEC a reduced fine of $50 million, and he even suggested that this amount could be paid in XRP.

The settlement is still pending approval from SEC commissioners, but Garlinghouse sees this as a positive sign of change. He pointed to a shift in leadership at the SEC and the White House as a factor in creating a more supportive environment for blockchain and cryptocurrency companies.

“This administration, in particular, I think, is interested in innovation, and I think they’re putting pressure on the SEC to come to an outcome here that is mindful of that,” Garlinghouse said.

He went on to emphasize that this change could not have happened under the previous administration, and he believes Ripple is now well-positioned for growth within a more stable and innovation-friendly framework.

“I think we’ll be in a better place if we can get to a settlement here. I’m not sure we would have been able to get to this administration to be able to exert this kind of pressure for change.”

In addition to discussing Ripple’s legal situation, Garlinghouse also shared his outlook for the broader crypto market. While he refrained from making predictions about XRP’s future, Garlinghouse did offer a bold forecast for bitcoin.

Given the recent changes, Garlinghouse believes that bitcoin could reach $200,000, as the market is still not fully considering the impact of recent institutional and regulatory changes.

“I think people are going to be surprised by how quickly the industry recovers and pivots. I think people are also going to be surprised by the level of activity in institutions entering the space, and I think people are going to be surprised by the administration’s interest in this area.”

This prediction aligns with a recent statement by Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, who suggested that bitcoin could hit $250,000 in the next year or two. However, Hoskinson believes that this price point would be reached after another market crash.

Garlinghouse’s comments come as crypto companies are increasingly reporting earnings and engaging with government officials to navigate a rapidly changing regulatory landscape.