- Garlinghouse says XRP outperformed Ethereum despite 20% drop.
- He estimates 80-90% chance Clarity Act passes by April.
- Ripple spent $3 billion on acquisitions since 2023.
- Ripple Treasury processed $13 trillion in payments last year.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said XRP has been the best performing major cryptocurrency despite recent market pressure. He made the remarks during an interview on Fox Business’s “Mornings with Maria.”
XRP has declined from recent highs as Bitcoin and other tokens faced sharp selling. However, Garlinghouse said short-term price swings do not change the broader outlook. He stated that XRP performed better than Ethereum, which he described as a leading competitor.
GM we are talking #crypto w @Ripple CEO @bgarlinghouse @MorningsMaria @FoxBusiness join us now pic.twitter.com/Qy1LOpIaKn
— Maria Bartiromo (@MariaBartiromo) February 19, 2026
He said, “XRP has been one of the best-performing major cryptocurrencies this year.” He added that market focus will move toward digital assets with real-world applications.
“The more we demonstrate real practical utility using technologies to solve real problems, the more you see that play out in a positive way,” he said.
Regulatory Clarity and the Clarity Act
Garlinghouse estimated an 80-90% chance that the Clarity Act will pass the US Congress by April. He said the proposed law would bring clear federal market structure rules for digital assets.
According to him, the bill would define whether a token is a security or a commodity. It would also set jurisdiction boundaries between the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
He stated that legal clarity would reduce uncertainty for exchanges and issuers. It would also increase institutional participation in the US crypto market.
Garlinghouse said regulatory progress stalled in late January, which affected market sentiment. “When that clarity got pushed or stalled in late January, that did not help,” he said.
He also noted that discussions are ongoing at the White House. He said the Senate Banking Committee is preparing to mark up the bill, and President Trump is pushing to move it forward before the midterm elections.
The legislation faces debate over stablecoin yields. Banks oppose yield-bearing stablecoins, while parts of the crypto sector support them. Garlinghouse called for “compromise for progress rather than perfection.”
Ripple Expansion and $3 Billion in Acquisitions
Since 2023, Ripple has spent about $3 billion on acquisitions. The company expanded into custody, treasury management, and prime brokerage services.
Ripple acquired Metaco for $250 million to strengthen its custody services. Metaco serves institutions including Citi, SocGen, and Deutsche Börse.
The company also acquired Hidden Road for $1.25 billion to enter prime brokerage. In addition, Ripple launched RLUSD, a regulated dollar stablecoin on XRPL and Ethereum.
Garlinghouse said Ripple is building infrastructure connected to trillions of dollars in financial flows. He pointed to Ripple Treasury, which processed $13 trillion in payments last year. None of those flows were crypto-enabled.
He said more than 1,000 corporate customers use the platform. Many are now exploring how blockchain can unlock capital held overseas and improve payment efficiency.
Focus on Utility and Market Outlook
Garlinghouse said Ripple’s strategy centers on connecting traditional finance with crypto systems. “We’ve been focused on how do we build bridges between what we call traditional finance and decentralized or crypto core,” he said.
He also reiterated that XRP is not a security. He maintained that clearer laws would support long-term growth.
While XRP has dropped about 20% from recent highs, Garlinghouse said Ripple entered 2026 from a position of strength. He stated that the company had a strong year in 2025.
He said that stablecoins are often the starting point for institutions entering blockchain finance. Ripple continues to target cross-border payments, liquidity services, and corporate treasury solutions.
Garlinghouse maintained that the company is focused on building financial infrastructure rather than short-term price movements.
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