TL;DR
- Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says he is not an XRP maximalist, arguing that different cryptocurrencies can serve different purposes.
- He says XRP can be useful for cross-border payments, while acknowledging that stablecoins may also solve the same problem.
- The comments bring Solana into the comparison, highlighting a broader crypto market where utility and specific use cases increasingly shape asset selection.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has rejected the idea that his position is centered exclusively on XRP, even as Solana enters the debate over which digital assets can deliver the most practical value. In a recent interview, Garlinghouse said he supports several cryptocurrencies for different reasons and does not want to persuade investors to choose XRP simply because of his role at Ripple.
“I’m not one of these people who’s an XRP maximalist,” Garlinghouse said, adding that he is bullish on multiple cryptocurrencies. His comments frame the competition between major networks less around loyalty and more around the problems each blockchain can solve.
"I'm not one of these people who's an XRP maximalist, I'm bullish on a bunch of cryptos, for a bunch of reasons"
– Brad Garlinghouse, 2026 pic.twitter.com/kAadHWXb8H— 🌸Eri ~ Carpe Diem (@sentosumosaba) September 24, 2026
XRP And Solana Compete Through Different Use Cases
Garlinghouse pointed to international payments as one area where XRP can provide utility. He described scenarios such as moving money into the Philippines, where a digital asset can potentially serve as a bridge between currencies and payment systems.
At the same time, he acknowledged that a stablecoin could perform the same function if it offers the most effective solution for a particular customer. That distinction is important as crypto infrastructure expands beyond individual tokens and toward combinations of blockchains, stablecoins and payment networks.
Ripple has also expanded its own stablecoin strategy through RLUSD. The dollar-backed asset is issued on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum, with Ripple describing it as a tool for payments, remittances, settlement and institutional liquidity. RLUSD has also expanded into additional networks, including Base, Optimism and Unichain, according to Ripple documentation.
Ripple Expands Beyond A Single-Asset Strategy
The broader approach gives Garlinghouse’s comments additional relevance. Ripple has increasingly positioned itself around payments infrastructure, stablecoins and institutional digital assets, rather than relying solely on XRP for growth.
In 2026, Ripple expanded its payments offering in Brazil across areas including cross-border payments, custody, stablecoins, prime brokerage and treasury management. The company has also expanded RLUSD internationally, including launches in Japan and Türkiye following local regulatory approvals.
For XRP, the argument remains centered on its role as a native asset of the XRP Ledger and a potential bridge for moving value across currencies. Solana, meanwhile, has developed a broader ecosystem around decentralized applications, trading, stablecoins and tokenized assets.
