At the highly anticipated XRP Las Vegas 2025 conference, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse addressed the long-running XRP vs. Bitcoin debate — and his message was clear: the crypto community needs unity, not infighting.
During his session, Garlinghouse spoke about one of the biggest mistakes he believes people in the crypto space continue to make. “It’s not about the 300 million people already in crypto doing more — it’s about getting 3 billion more people involved,” he explained, urging the industry to shift its focus from internal rivalries to global adoption.
“The Bitcoin community is not our enemy — they really are not. If they do well, we’re going to do well. We might do better. It’s just like, it’s not a zero-sum game. And I think the one thing I learned — I was in Silicon Valley for 24 years — the one thing you learn is tech is not a zero-sum game. We’re going to grow the pie,” he added.
Garlinghouse also hinted at Ripple’s expanding vision beyond its native token. Discussing Ripple’s acquisition of a prime brokerage and deeper involvement with traditional finance players, he opened up about how the company is positioning itself at the intersection of crypto-native innovation and Wall Street strategy.
According to him, DeFi won’t simply replace traditional finance — the two need to work together. Ripple has spent nearly a decade bridging that gap, especially through its payments business. He said this is a long-term journey that will play out over several years. The community has been very patient as Ripple has faced some tough challenges. The Hidden Road acquisition is about building stronger connections between traditional finance and decentralized finance (DeFi).
The Ripple CEO’s comments come at a time when market narratives often pit crypto communities against one another. His remarks serve as a timely reminder that in an industry still fighting for mainstream adoption, unity could be the real competitive edge.
