Ripple’s CEO Warns About a New Regulatory Crunch

The chief executive of Ripple, Brad Garlinghouse, has spoken out against what he calls a looming “Gary Gensler moment, ” warning that the crypto sector cannot handle another wave of strict regulation from the Biden administration. In a recent interview, he pointed out that markets have faced tough conditions over the past year and are entering 2026 with no clear direction from U. S. regulators. Garlinghouse argues that the industry needs rules that are both clear and consistent, noting recent progress as a hopeful sign. Despite the uncertainty, Ripple is growing. The company has been buying other firms and expanding into treasury management and prime brokerage services. These moves have led to higher revenue and a strong demand from big corporate customers, allowing Ripple to become the largest non‑bank prime brokerage firm in its first quarter of record.He has criticized actions taken by the Biden administration and the SEC, calling them a “lawfare” attack on crypto. Garlinghouse highlighted a joint statement from the SEC and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission that identified 16 digital assets as commodities, seeing this as a major breakthrough. Garlinghouse remains optimistic about the upcoming CLARITY Act, which could be signed as early as May. The legislation would allow U. S. banks to participate more fully in the crypto market, boosting institutional interest. He sees this as a “ChatGPT moment for crypto, ” suggesting that the sector could become an integral part of modern payment systems. Overall, he believes new laws and growing institutional support will help embed crypto into traditional finance, supporting Ripple’s goal of building a robust infrastructure for what he calls the “internet of value. ”