Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse disclosed in an April 11 interview with Fox Business that the company's settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) could potentially involve payment in XRP. He also offered a bullish outlook on Bitcoin, predicting a price of $200,000. The developments mark a significant turning point in the long-running legal dispute and inject fresh optimism into the cryptocurrency market.
Ripple-SEC Settlement: Fine Reduced to $50 Million, Possible XRP Payment
Garlinghouse stated that the SEC will ultimately receive $50 million, far below the $125 million Ripple had originally placed in escrow. The parties even discussed making that payment available in XRP. Although the agreement still requires final approval from SEC commissioners, Garlinghouse emphasized that it represents "a major step forward." He credited the deal to a more supportive regulatory stance toward blockchain and crypto firms, contrasting with the SEC's previous challenge to XRP's status as a security. The mention of XRP as a possible settlement instrument marks a notable change in tone from federal regulators.
Garlinghouse's Bitcoin Prediction: $200K Not Unreasonable
Referencing Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson's prediction that Bitcoin could reach $250,000 by the end of this year or next, Garlinghouse made his own forecast: "I think $200,000 is not unreasonable." He argued that markets still underestimate the impact of the United States shifting from "headwinds, hostility to tailwinds." However, he declined to predict XRP's price, saying it was "too close to home."
Regulatory Shift: From Hostility to Tailwinds
Garlinghouse attributed the progress to leadership changes at both the SEC and the White House, which have created a more stable and innovation-oriented framework. He claimed such an outcome would not have been achievable under the previous administration. The settlement is widely seen as a milestone for the broader crypto industry's compliance journey, signaling a new era of regulatory clarity in the U.S.