Ripple CEO Calls XRP North Star for Long-Term Plan Growth
- XRP directs Ripple expansion across payments, lending, and treasury framework services.
- Ripple advances XRPL tokenization with institutional-scale ambitions through 2026 plans.
- Garlinghouse envisions a trillion-dollar valuation through the ecosystem utility model.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has reaffirmed XRP’s central role in the company’s long-term strategy, describing the digital asset as the “North Star” guiding Ripple’s expanding financial infrastructure ambitions. He called XRP the foundation of Ripple’s purpose and platform direction. Speaking during the recent XRP Community Day virtual event, Garlinghouse told participants that every major product initiative aligns with strengthening the XRP ecosystem.
He addressed the “XRP family” directly and said XRP is not one product among many. Instead, he positioned it as the base layer supporting Ripple’s broader financial services framework. His remarks came as Ripple continues expanding its enterprise product suite.
Garlinghouse stated, “It’s our purpose,” when describing XRP’s role inside the company’s roadmap. He clarified that Ripple builds tools to enhance utility, liquidity, trust, and transaction velocity across the XRP Ledger.
Ripple Expands Platform Around XRP
Ripple Payments continues to extend XRP’s use in cross-border transactions. The service supports real-world settlement flows and aims to increase liquidity on demand. Through these integrations, institutions can move value quickly using XRP as a bridge asset.
Ripple develops payment systems for its decentralized exchange, which operates on the XRP Ledger. The DEX now includes permissioned domains designed to support regulated financial activity. The system enables institutions to conduct on-chain operations while maintaining their compliance obligations.
Garlinghouse described how Ripple Prime has expanded its operations. He explained that Ripple positions XRP for collateralization and lending within institutional frameworks. Ripple Treasury is also exploring treasury management payments using both XRP and the RLUSD stablecoin. Together, these units reflect Ripple’s shift toward operating as a financial infrastructure platform company.
Institutional Adoption and Tokenization Push
Ripple is expanding its product offerings while it increases its efforts to capture institutional clients. Garlinghouse identified Aviva Investors as a partner that tokenizes assets through their partnership with the global asset management company on the XRP Ledger. The collaboration shows that institutions want to use XRPL for the purpose of real-world asset tokenization.
During the same event, Ripple President Monica Long described 2026 as a turning point. She called it a year of “institutional adoption at scale,” with measurable results expected before year-end. Institutions already use XRP for settlements, treasury management, lending, and foreign exchange bridging.
Ripple Prime uses XRP as collateral and liquidity services while supporting the XLS-66 lending framework. The developments aim to expand institutional use cases throughout the entire ecosystem. Ripple develops its product roadmap according to XRP’s growing adoption.
Long-Term Ambitions and Strategic Integration
Garlinghouse also addressed Ripple’s broader ambitions. He said Ripple could become one of the first crypto companies to reach a $1 trillion valuation. He argued that a company built around ecosystem utility could reach that scale.
His comments came amid recent market volatility affecting XRP and other major crypto assets. Still, he urged participants to look beyond short-term price movements. He directed attention toward long-term financial infrastructure transformation.
Related: Ripple Custody Powers $280M Diamond Tokenization on XRP Ledger
Ripple has also pursued acquisitions and investments across prime brokerage, treasury management, stablecoins, and custody services. The company now focuses on integrating those capabilities into a cohesive platform. Garlinghouse reiterated that XRP remains central throughout that integration.
If XRP serves as Ripple’s North Star, can the ecosystem deliver institutional scale as projected?
Garlinghouse’s remarks positioned Ripple as a financial infrastructure builder operating with XRP at its core. The company continues aligning payments, lending, treasury, and tokenization initiatives around the XRP Ledger.
