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Ripple CEO Sends a Strong Signal for XRP From Las Vegas

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse once again publicly reaffirmed the company’s strong commitment to XRP at the Bitcoin 2026 conference, directly responding to narratives claiming that Ripple has abandoned its native token.

The announcement came alongside news that Ripple is carrying out an aggressive expansion into the Middle East and Africa.

CEO Faces Skepticism

Speaking at the conference in Vegas, Garlinghouse delivered a firm message to critics. He said that Ripple remains the largest holder of XRP in the world and will continue to support the token’s success.

“Ripple is very committed to making XRP the most useful, most liquid, and most trusted digital asset,” Garlinghouse said.

The statement directly addresses ongoing criticism that Ripple has abandoned XRP. Some observers believe the company is more focused on institutional payment solutions such as RippleNet and xCurrent, which do not require a token.

Garlinghouse’s remarks indicate that institutional adoption and the use of XRP are complementary strategies, not competing ones.

Expansion in the Middle East Accelerates

In addition to its commitment to XRP, Ripple announced the opening of a new regional headquarters in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai.

This move positions Ripple to expand its operations across the Middle East and Africa. The region offers major opportunities for developing payment infrastructure and adopting blockchain technology.

Ripple’s treasury platform processes an annual payment volume of US$12.5 trillion through 13,000 connected banks. Expanding into the Middle East can unlock additional transaction volume from financial institutions and payment providers in that region.

XRP Community Pushback

The Ripple CEO’s statement was warmly welcomed by members of the XRP community attending the conference. For years, doubts about Ripple’s commitment to XRP have created tension between the company and its token holders.

Garlinghouse’s statement is a form of both reaffirmation and rejection. He emphasized that Ripple’s large XRP holdings align the company’s interests with those of token holders. Ripple will benefit if XRP succeeds.

This alignment runs counter to narratives that claim Ripple regards XRP as a burden or an old obligation rather than a core strategic asset.

Institutional Adoption and XRP Integration

The CEO’s statement suggests plans to further integrate XRP into institutional payment flows. As more institutions use RippleNet, opportunities emerge to include XRP settlement in certain transaction types.

Garlinghouse also emphasized the desire to make XRP the most liquid digital asset. This effort includes building infrastructure so that financial institutions can easily trade and store XRP for settlement.

The three main goals mentioned—being the most useful, most liquid, and most trusted—outline XRP’s vision as the primary token for international payment settlement.

Skepticism Still Exists

However, not all observers view Ripple’s strategy positively. Some believe XRP’s usefulness remains limited despite having been developed for years. Others think that stablecoins such as USDC offer superior payment features.

Ultimately, Ripple’s commitment to XRP’s success must be reflected in adoption data. Token holders will judge the company’s sincerity by the increase in transaction volume and adoption levels following this announcement.