$XRP

Ripple CEO Urges Unity in Crypto as Industry Matures

Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, has called on the broader blockchain community—including Bitcoin and other crypto networks—to set aside long-standing divisions and collaborate to drive the industry forward. His remarks followed Ripple’s symbolic donation of the “Skull of Satoshi” to the Bitcoin community, now permanently housed at the Bitcoin Museum in Nashville.

“I hope this gesture continues to remind folks that we—BTC, XRP, and other crypto communities—have more in common than we think,” Garlinghouse stated.

Historically, Garlinghouse has positioned XRP as a competitor to Bitcoin, citing regulatory challenges under the SEC as a key obstacle. He has also criticized the SEC’s selective regulatory approach and opposed the SBR, advocating for broader crypto inclusion. With XRP now designated as a digital stockpile under the Trump administration, he emphasized, “Maximalism remains the enemy of crypto progress.”

Despite his efforts, Bitcoin maintains its dominance with a market cap exceeding $2 trillion, while XRP ranks fourth with over $130 billion. Garlinghouse has confirmed personal holdings in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP.

This year's Bitcoin 2025 conference drew over 30,000 attendees and 300 exhibitors, solidifying its role as a major industry event. During the conference, Garlinghouse reiterated the original intent behind the Skull of Satoshi—to raise awareness about blockchain energy consumption. He noted Bitcoin’s annual energy usage exceeds 57 billion kWh, comparable to that of Argentina, whereas XRP consumes just 474,000 kWh—approximately 100,000 times less energy per transaction.

Meanwhile, BTQ and Quandela have partnered to explore photonic quantum computing for a more energy-efficient Proof-of-Work alternative, QSPoW.

However, Ripple continues to face scrutiny over its centralized leadership. #xrp