Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has directly addressed concerns about the company’s commitment to XRP, making it clear that the launch and expansion of RLUSD do not signal a change in its position on the cryptocurrency.
During a discussion hosted by RippleX, Garlinghouse explained why XRP remains essential to the XRP Ledger and how the company intends to use both assets for different purposes.
Crypto influencer John Squire drew attention to the CEO’s comments in a tweet, emphasizing that RLUSD does not replace XRP. His post included excerpts from Garlinghouse’s explanation of the relationship between the two digital assets.
Brad Garlinghouse just shut down the "Ripple is abandoning XRP" crowd. 🎯
"We remain completely committed to the XRP ecosystem."
"XRP is needed to use the XRP Ledger."RLUSD doesn't replace XRP. It runs ON the ledger that needs XRP for every account, every fee, every reserve.…
— John Squire (@TheCryptoSquire) November 13, 2026
Ripple’s Commitment To The XRP Ecosystem Reaffirmed
During the RippleX discussion, an XRPL Commons representative asked Garlinghouse to explain the different use cases for XRP and RLUSD. The question addressed the growing importance of stablecoins and how Ripple views the role of its native cryptocurrency alongside its dollar-backed digital asset.
Garlinghouse began by addressing what he described as misinformation surrounding Ripple’s position. He explained that some people had misinterpreted the company’s strategy because of tribalism within the cryptocurrency industry.
“We remain completely committed to the XRP ecosystem for a whole bunch of reasons,” he said.
He also described the XRP Ledger as an incredibly efficient blockchain and noted that Ripple owns a substantial amount of XRP. Garlinghouse reiterated that the company remains fully committed to the ecosystem.
He then explained why XRP remains necessary for the network’s operation. According to the CEO, XRP serves as the native token of the XRP Ledger and plays an essential role in transaction fees, account reserves and the creation of accounts.
“XRP is needed to use the XRP Ledger,” Garlinghouse emphasized.
XRP Remains A Bridge Asset For Cross-Border Payments
Garlinghouse also explained how Ripple uses XRP within its cross-border payments business. He described the cryptocurrency as a bridge asset that facilitates currency conversions, particularly in markets where certain currencies have limited liquidity.
He pointed to XRP’s transaction speed and low transaction costs as important advantages for this purpose. The CEO explained that Ripple uses the asset globally to support payments between different currencies.
He further noted that XRP can complement stablecoins when liquidity between particular currencies remains limited. This distinction illustrates how the two assets can serve different functions within the same payment infrastructure.
Why Ripple Developed RLUSD
Garlinghouse explained that Ripple had already used stablecoins for several years before introducing RLUSD. He specifically mentioned Tether and USDC as stablecoins the company previously used in its operations.
He recalled that Ripple had publicly disclosed minting approximately 20% of all USDC at one point. This experience prompted the company to consider whether it could establish a meaningful position in the stablecoin market.
Garlinghouse said Ripple recognized an opportunity to participate in the sector, although the company would likely continue using other technologies when necessary.
He also described stablecoins as essential for on-chain payments, particularly as more assets become tokenized on the XRP Ledger.
“Stable coins are going to be required,” he explained, connecting their importance to the anticipated growth of tokenized assets.
His explanation establishes Ripple’s position that XRP and RLUSD serve complementary purposes. While XRP supports the ledger’s fundamental operations and facilitates cross-border currency conversions, RLUSD provides a stable-value asset for on-chain payments and other financial activities.
Disclaimer: This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.
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