Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has stated that XRP is not necessarily the optimal asset for every cross-border payment scenario, acknowledging that stablecoins can solve certain customer problems more effectively. The comments, originating from a January 2026 Faena Rose interview that resurfaced on social media in September, align with Ripple’s multi-asset payment strategy.
Garlinghouse Rejects Token Maximalism in Favor of Utility
During the discussion, Garlinghouse emphasized that while XRP functions as an efficient bridge asset, customer requirements must dictate the underlying technology. He explicitly rejected the label of an XRP maximalist, arguing that utility should drive adoption rather than allegiance to a single cryptocurrency.
Garlinghouse noted that while XRP excels at providing liquidity between volatile or illiquid fiat corridors, stablecoins offer a superior structure for transactions where price stability is paramount. Rather than signaling a move away from XRP, the comments reflect Ripple’s architectural pivot toward supporting diverse settlement assets based on local regulatory and corporate needs.
Ripple Payments Integrates RLUSD and Multi-Asset Infrastructure
Ripple’s institutional products reflect this flexible approach. The core Ripple Payments platform allows enterprise clients to settle transactions across 60 markets using fiat or major stablecoins, including USDC, USDT, and Ripple’s own RLUSD. The underlying settlement layer remains decoupled from any individual token, enabling seamless integration of new stablecoins.
While XRP continues to serve as a bridge asset for On-Demand Liquidity (ODL), RLUSD addresses corporate treasury, remittance, and pair-settlement needs requiring 1:1 US dollar backing. This dual-asset ecosystem expands across regional corridors, such as Bitso’s integration of the Mexican peso-backed MXNB on the XRP Ledger to facilitate cross-border flows alongside RLUSD.
The resurfaced dialogue also touches on legislative dynamics following the procedural setback of the CLARITY Act in the US Senate on September 15. Despite stalled federal market-structure legislation, Ripple maintains that its infrastructure growth relies on existing regulatory frameworks and commodity classifications established by regulators.
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