Chiara Bianchi
Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple, revealed that 75% of the company’s open positions are now situated in the United States. This shift reflects growing optimism within the cryptocurrency sector as Donald Trump prepares to assume office.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Garlinghouse remarked, “Say what you want, but the ‘Trump effect’ is already driving significant progress in crypto — both through his campaign and his administration’s immediate priorities.”
2025 is here and the Trump bull market is real. For Ripple, this is even more personal after Gensler’s SEC effectively froze our business opportunities here at home for years. The optimism is obvious and very deserved.
Today:
✅75% of Ripple’s open roles are now US-based, while…— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) January 5, 2025
Over the past four years, Ripple predominantly expanded its workforce outside the United States. This strategy stemmed from ongoing legal disputes with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), previously led by Gary Gensler, who has since resigned.
However, Garlinghouse highlighted a dramatic turnaround in recent months. In the final six weeks of 2024 alone, Ripple secured more partnerships in the U.S. than in the preceding six months combined.
“This is deeply personal for Ripple,” Garlinghouse noted. “The SEC’s actions under Gensler essentially paralyzed our domestic growth for years. Now, the renewed optimism is both evident and well-founded.”
The broader cryptocurrency market has seen a sustained upward trend following Trump’s reelection. Key assets, including Bitcoin and XRP, have reached record-breaking prices. XRP, for instance, surged over 330% in the period, climbing from $0.55 to $2.41, as reported by PRIME’s XRP price index.
Trump has publicly committed to transforming the U.S. into the global hub for cryptocurrency. His plans include creating a national crypto stockpile and ensuring all Bitcoin mining operations are conducted domestically. Trump will officially take office on January 20.
Industry Skepticism: Can Policies Deliver?
Despite the optimism surrounding Trump’s administration, some industry experts remain cautious. Former BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes argued in a recent essay that achieving such sweeping changes in a short time might not be feasible. Hayes warned that unmet expectations could trigger a sharp market correction.
