At the D.C. Fintech Week, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse addressed one of the biggest misconceptions in the crypto industry: that Ripple controls XRP. He clarified that while Ripple is a company with its own leadership, XRP operates as an open-source technology supported by a wide community of independent developers, companies, and users.
Garlinghouse emphasized that many people mistakenly treat XRP as a company led by a single figure. In reality, it functions through a decentralized ecosystem where hundreds of independent builders contribute to the XRP Ledger. He explained, “People say things like, ‘Well, XRP has a CEO.’ I’m like, who is it? Ripple has a CEO. That’s me. But there are scores, if not hundreds, of other CEOs building around the XRP ecosystem.”
### Ripple’s Legal Fight and Industry Role
Garlinghouse also discussed Ripple’s lengthy legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The company spent nearly $150 million defending itself to achieve legal clarity that XRP is not a security. He noted that Ripple fought this case not only for its own sake but also to promote broader regulatory understanding within the crypto industry.
Despite the challenges, Ripple continues to support the development of a transparent, multi-chain ecosystem and remains a major investor in blockchain innovation. Garlinghouse reaffirmed that Ripple’s goal is to drive real-world utility through crypto—not to control it.
### Open-Source Governance and Independence
The XRP Ledger operates under a governance system that reflects its open-source nature. Network changes and amendments require approval from a large majority of validators—not just Ripple.
In fact, there have been instances where Ripple opposed certain proposals that were nevertheless approved by the community. This demonstrates that the company does not control XRP’s direction.
This governance model is one of XRP’s key strengths, allowing it to evolve independently of Ripple’s internal decisions while maintaining security and decentralization.
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