Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Weighs In on Trump Crypto Reserve Debate

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has recently shared his opinion on the current discussions regarding the U.S. government’s plan to create a national digital asset reserve.

The initiative that started with Bitcoin has grown and now includes a wider range of cryptocurrencies, including XRP. This has raised debates within the cryptocurrency space, with different opinions on the possibility of including other cryptocurrencies.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Calls for a Multichain Approach

Despite Ripple’s growing presence in the US, Brad Garlinghouse has reaffirmed his company’s commitment to the idea of a multichain future and collaboration within the cryptocurrency space. ”The crypto industry has a real shot, here and now, to achieve the many goals we have in common IF we work together instead of tearing each other down,” he stated in an X post.

He mentioned owning XRP, BTC, and ETH, among others, to illustrate his belief in a multichain future.

”I have always called for a level playing field where one token is not pitted against the other,” he said, noting that maximalism is still a hindrance to the growth of the crypto industry. “I am pleased to observe that not many people hold this view as they used to.”

Under the leadership of Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, the company has held dialogues with the regulators to ensure that there is a clear legal framework for the adoption of XRP as a digital reserve asset. Garlinghouse has pointed out that the reserve should ideally be for the whole industry and not for a particular coin.

“If a government digital asset reserve is created I think it should be diversified, it should not be one token whether it is BTC or XRP or any other,” he said.

Criticism From Bitcoin Advocates

While Ripple has urged the adoption of the digital asset, skeptics have expressed their concerns over the possibility of incorporating XRP and other altcoins into a national reserve. Bitcoin maximalists, including Pierre Rochard, the Vice President of Riot Platforms, state that the decentralized and scarce nature of Bitcoin renders it the only acceptable reserve currency.

Rochard said Ripple is using its lobbying to guide the U.S. government towards a bigger pool that includes XRP as an asset. 

Unlike Ripple CEO Brad Gralinghouse, Ryan Selkis of Messari also shared the same view, pointing out that Bitcoin has some features that make it better than the rest.

Arizona Advances Bitcoin Reserve Bill

As debates over the national reserve continue, Arizona has made progress toward establishing its own Bitcoin-focused reserve. A state Senate committee has approved a bill to create a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve,” which will now proceed to a Senate floor vote.

The initiative, championed by Arizona lawmakers Wendy Rogers and Jeff Weninger, aims to secure Bitcoin as a state reserve asset, citing its scarcity and decentralized nature as key advantages. 

Crypto advocate Dennis Porter called the move a major milestone, confirming Arizona as the first state to advance such legislation.

XRP Price Prediction Amid Market Uncertainty

Amid Ripple CEO’s comments, the broader cryptocurrency market has taken a hit, with XRP experiencing fluctuations. Crypto analyst Dark Defender has predicted a temporary price drop for XRP to $2.81 before a rebound to $3.67. 

The analyst attributes this decline to corrective market movements, which have also affected other cryptocurrencies.

At press time, the XRP price was trading at $3.03, a 2% surge from the intra-day low of $2.71. During the recovery, XRP’s market capitalization and 24-hour trading volume surged by 2% and 266% respectively to $174.57B and $15.53B.