Isabella García
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty participated in a private dinner with US President-elect Donald Trump at the Mar-a-Lago Resort in Florida on January 8. While specifics of the conversation remain confidential, Garlinghouse described the gathering as a promising beginning to 2025, signaling Ripple’s ongoing efforts to expand its influence in the US market.
The meeting with Trump underscores Ripple’s growing commitment to strengthening its US operations. In his post on X, Garlinghouse highlighted that Ripple experienced a notable uptick in US business activity during the last months of 2024, securing more deals in those weeks than in the preceding six months combined.
Furthermore, Ripple is now placing 75% of its open positions in the US, a clear indication of the company’s strategic shift towards focusing on the US market after years of global expansion.
Trump’s engagement with the crypto industry signals a significant shift in his views. Initially critical of Bitcoin, Trump is now supporting initiatives like the establishment of a national Bitcoin reserve. Recent meetings at Mar-a-Lago, including discussions with figures such as Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, suggest a growing commitment to integrating cryptocurrencies into the economic framework of his upcoming administration.
The inclusion of crypto advocates like Elon Musk, Howard Lutnick, and David Sacks in Trump’s cabinet appointments further emphasizes his pro-crypto stance. These individuals are expected to play key roles in shaping policies that promote the adoption and regulation of cryptocurrencies, alongside emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Ripple’s Growing Influence and RLUSD Stablecoin Expansion
Ripple continues to build on its momentum in the crypto sector. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, President Monica Long announced plans to expand Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin to additional exchanges, with the rollout expected to happen “imminently.” This expansion reflects Ripple’s confidence in the stablecoin’s potential, particularly as the stablecoin market has experienced significant growth in recent months.
Long also noted that Ripple’s payment business has seen a surge in transaction volume, which is expected to drive further adoption of RLUSD. Additionally, she expressed optimism about the potential approval of a spot-based XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), predicting that the regulatory landscape for crypto will accelerate in the coming year.
These developments suggest that both Ripple and the broader US crypto industry are on the cusp of significant advancements, setting the stage for an exciting year ahead in the digital asset space.
