Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said in a FOX Business interview that stablecoins could become the main entry point for businesses entering the crypto sector, calling it the industry's potential “ChatGPT moment.” He noted that boards, treasurers, and chief financial officers are increasingly asking how stablecoins fit into company operations.
Corporate treasury teams accelerate stablecoin evaluation
Garlinghouse revealed that many firms are already discussing the shift at the executive level, with Fortune 500 and Fortune 2000 companies asking internal finance leaders to define the role stablecoins should play. He argued the real shift will come when company finance teams gain direct options to use stablecoins for payments and treasury activity.
Bloomberg Intelligence projected in early January that stablecoin flows could grow at an 80% compound annual rate, reaching $56.6 trillion by 2030. Garlinghouse also noted that stablecoins processed over $33 trillion in trading volume last year, with nearly 90% coming from Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC.
Ripple expands infrastructure: RLUSD in top 10, two acquisitions closed
Ripple entered the stablecoin market with Ripple USD (RLUSD) in December 2024. CoinGecko data shows RLUSD now ranks as the 10th largest stablecoin by market cap, at roughly $1.4 billion. To strengthen payments and treasury infrastructure, Ripple acquired institutional prime brokerage Hidden Road for $1.25 billion and corporate treasury platform GTreasury for $1 billion, adding more tools for business-focused blockchain services.
Regulation remains a key variable
Garlinghouse said U.S. regulation will significantly shape how fast stablecoin payments expand. He pointed to the potential of the CLARITY Act to accelerate adoption if Congress passes it and the president signs it into law. He criticized the previous regulatory approach under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, adding that “a lot of eyes are on what is US regulation going to look like and is it going to get done.”