TL;DR
- Brad Garlinghouse expects new all-time highs for the crypto market in 2026, supported by recent regulatory developments.
- The GENIUS Act allows the issuance of fully backed stablecoins with monthly audits; Ripple launched RLUSD in 2024, currently valued at around $1.4 billion.
- The Clarity Act remains pending; its approval will determine which agency oversees cryptocurrencies and how projects are classified.
Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, reaffirmed his forecast of all-time highs for the crypto market in 2026 during the World Economic Forum in Davos. He stated that recent regulatory activity in the United States will enable the market to reach new levels over the next 12 months.
The executive highlighted that the GENIUS Act, passed in June 2025, set rules for issuing stablecoins, including full backing and monthly audits. The legislation opened the door for companies, fintechs, and banks to explore launching stablecoins. Ripple launched RLUSD in 2024, currently valued at $1.4 billion according to CoinGecko.
Garlinghouse Addressed the Role of Companies and Regulators
Garlinghouse emphasized that the attention from major financial institutions to the crypto industry is not yet fully reflected in market prices. He stated that institutional adoption represents a fundamental shift for the industry.
The executive maintained his support for the Clarity Act, whose approval remains uncertain after Coinbase withdrew its backing on January 14, 2026. The law would define which agency supervises cryptocurrencies and whether projects are classified as securities or as CFTC-regulated assets if they demonstrate sufficient decentralization. Garlinghouse praised the progress made by Senator Tim Scott and the Senate Banking Committee, calling the legislation a step toward regulatory clarity for the sector.
Ripple Prepares to Integrate into the Financial System
In 2025, Ripple ended a four-year lawsuit with the SEC over the unregistered sale of XRP. The case was dismissed in March, and the company spent $150 million on its defense. The legal victory set a highly significant precedent for the industry.
Garlinghouse expects the GENIUS Act to allow stablecoin operations to scale and facilitate transactions such as payroll and corporate payments. He said Ripple will continue promoting XRP integration into the financial ecosystem, focusing on sustained growth and institutional adoption over the next decade.
Regulators, lawmakers, and Wall Street firms will shape crypto market dynamics in 2026, and XRP’s trajectory will depend on the final approval of the Clarity Act and ongoing institutional adoption
