Ripple bets on the robustness of the protocol over media noise: Brad Garlinghouse outlines the 2026 vision

In a year-end statement, Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s top executive, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to building sustainable financial solutions, setting aside the speculative fluctuations that characterize crypto markets. The statement comes alongside positive results in Q4 2025, a period that Garlinghouse compared to the performance of great athletes in their discipline: success needs no explanation.

Long-term infrastructure: XRP and RLUSD as pillars

Ripple’s strategy continues to pivot around two core assets. The first is XRP, which remains central to the “Internet of Value” project, a concept that envisions the movement of money with the same fluidity as data flows on the internet. The second is RLUSD, the company’s stablecoin, which reinforces this vision by providing stability in global financial transactions.

Garlinghouse emphasized that modernizing international payment systems requires sustained investment: “Building crypto infrastructure and transforming financial markets is not a short-term project.” This stance contrasts with the market cycle volatility that typically dominates social media narratives.

Aggressive expansion through acquisitions: the path to institutional adoption

Over the past year, Ripple has executed a series of high-impact transactions to consolidate its position. The purchase of Hidden Road for $1.25 billion strengthened its brokerage capabilities, while the acquisition of GTreasury ($1 billion) expanded its treasury management ecosystem. Additionally, Ripple invested $200 million in Rail, a platform specialized in blockchain payments.

These operations respond to a clear goal: to enhance the ability to serve institutional clients and accelerate the adoption of blockchain-based payment solutions. Although a previous attempt to acquire Circle did not materialize, Ripple’s moves in the M&A market demonstrate strategic determination.

Regulatory licenses: the game-changing green light

Stuart Alderoty, Ripple’s legal officer, announced a significant regulatory milestone: the company obtained approval for an Electronic Money Institution license (EMI) from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, along with crypto-asset registration in the jurisdiction.

This authorization is more than an administrative formality. It represents a regulatory validation that Ripple plans to leverage to expand operations with British financial institutions, setting a precedent in key European markets.

2026: the year of a paradigm shift

Reece Merrick, a Ripple executive, captured the company’s internal sentiment: “The energy at Ripple is now palpable. Although 2025 was fundamental, the combination of completed acquisitions and the EMI license in the UK positions 2026 as a true inflection point.”

Industry observers, like lawyer John Deaton, recognize that Ripple’s progress is noteworthy in a context of years of regulatory pressure. The company has built steadily while securing global licenses and consolidating an estimated valuation of $40 billion.

Ripple’s trajectory illustrates a strategy that prioritizes solid foundations over short-term narratives: infrastructure, regulation, and institutional adoption are the pillars on which Brad Garlinghouse and his team build.