Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse addressed recent developments after attending a White House crypto meeting and joining the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee. Garlinghouse called the new committee “the Olympic rules of crypto.” He noted unanimous agreement among traditional finance participants that old regulatory rules are inadequate for the current market. The White House gathering, organized by the Trump administration, included executives from Coinbase, Gemini, and others, along with SEC and CFTC chairmen. Key discussion centered on the CLARITY Act, which stalled in the Senate. Garlinghouse stated that 1 in 4 Americans own digital assets, emphasizing crypto is no longer a fringe industry.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse spoke for the first time after attending a crypto meeting at the White House and joining the CFTC’s Innovation Advisory Committee, which he called “the Olympic rules of crypto.” He noted that even though numerous participants from the traditional finance world were present, the conclusion was unanimous — old rules do not work under the current market environment.
Aside from recent price moves, the White House gathering organized by the Trump administration may have influenced the market revival. The president met with executives from Coinbase, Ripple, Gemini, and other major crypto companies, as well as the chairmen of the SEC and CFTC.
A key agenda item was the CLARITY Act, which policymakers continue to debate. Trump called on Congress to pass a “fair version” of the bill to help keep the U.S. ahead of China. The legislation passed the House in July 2025 but stalled in the Senate over issues such as ethics provisions, stablecoin rewards, and tokenized equities.
Garlinghouse said after the event that it was “great to be back at the White House” alongside Trump, CFTC’s Mike Selig, and SEC’s Paul Atkins. He stated that the big picture is clear since “1 in 4 Americans own digital assets” and that crypto “isn’t a fringe industry.”
He further noted, “This President’s incredible commitment to innovation and leadership around digital assets in the US has been profound. The future is bright,” as stated. At the CFTC meeting, Garlinghouse noted that all parties, including those from TradFi, believe current written regulatory rules represent a different era and “aren’t good enough” for the current one.
He referred to an old open letter he wrote in 2019 urging U.S. authorities to create clearer rules for crypto. Seven years later, the industry is still waiting. On the positive side, he believes the Trump administration, alongside appointees like Selig and a “myriad of bold leaders in Congress,” are finally on the right track, as the industry has “never been closer” to such rules.
