According to Ripple's CEO, XRP's utility is not always the best for payments

The utility of XRP according to Ripple's CEO is not absolute: Brad Garlinghouse admitted that the token is not always the best choice for international payments.

Key points

• Garlinghouse says that XRP can be the best bridge asset in some cases of cross-border payments, but not in all.
• He admits that a stablecoin might solve certain payment issues better than XRP.
• He dismisses accusations that XRP is centralized and states that he no longer wants to respond to these criticisms.
• He does not define himself as an XRP maximalist: he personally also owns Solana (SOL).
• He criticizes speculative trends like NFTs, Bored Apes, and memecoins, but expresses respect for Coinbase and its CEO Brian Armstrong.

The statements come from a recently resurfaced intervention by Garlinghouse, recorded during a panel at Faena Rose titled "The Transformative Power of Crypto Assets". The event was dedicated to cross-border payments, stablecoins, and financial inclusion.

Garlinghouse's nuanced view on XRP and payments

XRP as a bridge asset, not the only solution

For Garlinghouse, XRP works well as a bridge asset only in certain international payment scenarios. "It could be that XRP is the best bridge asset for that purpose," he said, referring to cases where the token truly facilitates the transfer of value between different currencies.

However, the CEO of Ripple's view on the utility of XRP does not stop at an unconditional exaltation of the token. Garlinghouse quickly clarified that XRP does not necessarily have to be used if another asset can perform the same task more effectively.

Stablecoins as an alternative in cross-border payments

Garlinghouse admitted that a stablecoin could "solve that problem better," meaning it could address cross-border payment issues better than XRP in certain contexts. This is a significant opening from the CEO of a company, Ripple, that has direct and relevant exposure to the token.

Garlinghouse also rejected the idea that XRP is centralized, stating that he is no longer willing to respond to such accusations.

Not a maximalist: Garlinghouse's personal stance

Garlinghouse wanted to clarify that he is not exclusively tied to XRP. "I'm not one of these people who's an XRP maximalist. I'm bullish on a bunch of cryptos, for a bunch of reasons," he stated.

The CEO of Ripple also revealed that he personally holds Solana (SOL), a detail that reinforces the idea of a diversified approach to the crypto sector rather than absolute loyalty to a single asset.

Utility as a criterion, criticism of speculative trends

For Garlinghouse, a token is only valuable if it solves a real problem. "I think any technology and any token, it has to have a real use case and it has to solve a problem, or I just kind of don't get it," he explained, outlining what appears to be his basic test for judging any digital asset.

This criterion also explains why he is willing to admit that XRP is not always the right answer: if utility remains the main parameter, the choice of asset becomes secondary to the problem to be solved.

Garlinghouse then pointed out some of the more speculative trends in the sector. "So the NFT craze and the Bored Apes, like, I personally was like, listen, I don't see how that creates value," he said, adding that he does not even understand the recent memecoin fever.

The Dogecoin case and negative reactions

Years ago, Garlinghouse criticized Dogecoin, triggering a wave of negative reactions. "I got a lot of shit years ago because I came out and said, in that context, I said something negative about Dogecoin," he recalled, noting that it was around the same time Elon Musk was speaking positively about the coin.

The episode confirms how the utility of XRP according to Ripple's CEO, and more generally his judgment on crypto, is tied to a constant criterion: the real ability to solve problems, not the hype of the moment.

Respect for Coinbase despite disagreements

Despite tensions between the two companies over the failed Clarity Act, Garlinghouse spoke highly of Coinbase and its CEO. "There are only a few really large, consequential crypto companies in the United States. Coinbase is clearly one of them," he said.

"I have a ton of respect for Coinbase. I have a ton of respect for Brian," he added, referring to Brian Armstrong. A signal that, even among competitors with divergent positions, the U.S. crypto sector recognizes a limited number of truly relevant companies.

FAQ

Does Brad Garlinghouse believe XRP is always the best solution for payments?

No, Garlinghouse acknowledges that XRP can be the best bridge asset in some cases but not in all, and sometimes stablecoins can solve payment issues better.

Is Brad Garlinghouse focused exclusively on XRP?

No, he states that he is not an XRP maximalist and is bullish on various cryptos, including Solana (SOL) which he personally holds.

What does Garlinghouse think of speculative trends like NFTs and memecoins?

He is critical of these trends and says he does not understand how they create real value.

How does Garlinghouse judge Coinbase and its CEO Brian Armstrong?

He expresses great respect for Coinbase and for Brian Armstrong, despite disagreements between the two companies.

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