Ripple CEO Praises XRP, Questions Strategy's Impact on Bitcoin and Crypto

In a recent CNBC interview, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse criticized Strategy’s approach to Bitcoin, arguing that its leveraged accumulation strategy has hurt the broader cryptocurrency market. He specifically pointed to Strategy’s STRC stock, which trades 25% below its par price of $100, calling it a “pretty damning indictment” of the company’s financial engineering. Garlinghouse noted that while Strategy’s purchases added excitement during bull runs, they now compound losses during corrections.

Garlinghouse stressed that long-term value for digital assets comes from utility, not speculative products. “Long-term value of any digital asset is going to be driven by utility,” he said, adding that solving real problems for customers leads to liquidity, demand, and trust. Despite his critique, he remains bullish on Bitcoin, advising investors to be greedy given its 50% correction from October 2025 highs.

Turning to XRP, Garlinghouse highlighted its utility in cross-border payments, emphasizing Ripple’s focus on bringing traditional finance onto blockchain. He revealed that Ripple’s prime brokerage business cleared $16 trillion in payments in 2025 alone, driven by acquisitions. “Ripple’s strategy from the beginning has been how to bring traditional finance into the modern architecture of blockchain,” he concluded.

Source: https://cryptopotato.com/ripple-ceo-praises-xrp-questions-strategys-impact-on-bitcoin-and-crypto/