Ripple CEO and Chief Legal Officer Meet with President-elect Trump
Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty recently attended a private dinner with US President-elect Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago Resort in Florida. The details of their discussion have not been revealed, but Garlinghouse described the meeting as a “strong start to 2025” in a Jan. 8 post on X.
This meeting highlights Ripple’s efforts to strengthen its presence in the US market, which has seen renewed optimism following Trump’s election victory. Garlinghouse noted that Ripple experienced a surge in US business activity towards the end of 2024, signing more deals than in the previous six months combined. Additionally, 75% of the company’s open roles are now based in the US, signaling a strategic pivot after years of global focus.
Trump’s Engagement with Crypto Sector
- President-elect Trump’s interactions with the crypto sector indicate a shift in his outlook.
- Once skeptical of Bitcoin, Trump now supports initiatives like a national Bitcoin reserve.
- Recent meetings with figures like Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek and a call with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong suggest an intent to integrate crypto into his economic agenda.
Trump’s cabinet appointments also reflect his pro-crypto stance, with advocates like Elon Musk, Howard Lutnick, and David Sacks expected to advance policies focusing on crypto and artificial intelligence. These developments could lead to significant changes in US crypto regulation and adoption.
Ripple’s Future Plans
In a Bloomberg interview, Ripple’s President Monica Long revealed plans to expand the RLUSD stablecoin to additional exchanges in the near future. She highlighted the stablecoin sector’s recent growth, positioning RLUSD to capitalize on this trend. Ripple’s payment business, which has doubled its transaction volume, is expected to drive RLUSD adoption further.
Long also expressed optimism about approving a spot-based XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), anticipating an increase in applications and accelerated regulatory approvals within the year.
