
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has revealed that the company’s previous valuation of $11 billion is now “outdated”, largely due to a significant rise in the value of XRP and growing demand for Ripple’s blockchain solutions.
In an interview with Citizens JMP, Garlinghouse explained that the firm’s updated valuation, now surpassing $100 billion, is driven not only by growing demand for the company’s blockchain solutions but also by the surge in XRP’s price. The XRP token was trading at $2.30 at the time of writing, according to data from CoinGecko.
"As we think about big themes for 2025, we believe blockchain-based business models are on the verge of a step-function in adoption which will drive an acceleration of capital and further… https://t.co/VyEx9mBlcv pic.twitter.com/vV0wFGwtY5
The CEO pointed out that the company’s private market trading has been more affordable compared to its net asset value, especially when compared to other crypto-related firms like MicroStrategy.
“Ripple has been trading in the private markets at a discount while MicroStrategy has trading at 3x premium to its net asset value,” he stated. In early 2024, Ripple’s prior valuation aligned with the company’s $300 million share repurchase.
In the same interview, Garlinghouse also highlighted its newly introduced stablecoin, Ripple USD, and its integration within the larger XRP ecosystem.
“Ripple has a lot of experience with institutions, a lot of experience with payment flows to bring a product to market that is truly the most trusted. We were the first to come out with a trust license,” the CEO said.
Garlinghouse detailed that Ripple USD was created to boost liquidity on the XRP Ledger, which he believes enhances the overall XRP ecosystem. He emphasized that increased liquidity helps streamline transactions, reducing friction across the network.
During the interview, Garlinghouse also slammed the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for its “abusive” regulatory methods and heavy reliance on enforcement tactics, which he does not find constructive.
The CEO expressed hope that the incoming administration under President-elect Donald Trump will clarify how digital assets are treated in relation to securities laws. He also anticipates that the responsibility for regulating cryptocurrency may eventually shift to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).