Ripple CEO Sees New Crypto Highs After Bitcoin’s $126,000 Peak

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says crypto markets could rise further as more institutions enter the market and regulations become clearer.

Quick overview

  • Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is optimistic about the crypto market, anticipating further price increases as institutional involvement grows and regulations become clearer.
  • He describes the current influx of financial institutions as a 'massive sea change' that is based on long-term demand rather than speculation.
  • Garlinghouse believes that Bitcoin's previous all-time high of $126,000 demonstrates the market's potential for significant growth when confidence and supportive policies are present.
  • He emphasizes that Ripple is committed to the long-term growth of the XRP ecosystem, driven by real adoption and regulatory clarity.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says crypto markets could rise further as more institutions enter the market and regulations become clearer. He is “very bullish” about digital assets and expects prices to hit new all-time highs.

Garlinghouse called the increased involvement from big financial institutions a “massive sea change.” He said this new demand is based on long-term factors, not just speculation, and that it is happening faster than prices show.

“I don’t think that’s priced into the crypto market as much as I would have expected right now,” Garlinghouse said, arguing that valuations have yet to fully account for the scale of institutional involvement.

He pointed to new US regulations, including recent laws, as a main reason for less uncertainty. These changes have made it easier for big financial firms to get more involved in crypto.

Bitcoin’s $126,000 High Shows Upside

Garlinghouse pointed to Bitcoin’s all-time high of about $126,000 in October 2025 as proof that crypto markets can go much higher when policies and liquidity are supportive.

He said that the peak showed the market can handle more investment when confidence is high. He believes today’s environment is different from past cycles because institutions are more involved and the rules are clearer, not just driven by short-term excitement.

He said today’s market dynamics reflect a reset rather than exhaustion, with several factors coming together: early in the US.

  • More real-world uses for crypto beyond just price speculation

Garlinghouse said these factors set the stage for long-term growth, not just a short-lived rally from individual investors.

XRP and Long-Term Crypto Growth

Garlinghouse said Ripple is focused on the long-term growth of the XRP ecosystem, which he sees as driven by real adoption and lasting changes.

“We are a very vested party in what goes “We are a very vested party in what goes on in the XRP ecosystem,” he said. “In another five or 10 years, you’re going to see continued, very positive momentum,”as “settling into a really nice opportunity to grow for the next 10 years,” with stablecoins, payments efficiency, and regulatory certainty emerging as the primary drivers.

Garlinghouse is confident that more US laws, such as the proposed CLARITY Act, are close to being finalized. He said clearer laws will help connect crypto with traditional finance and boost confidence among institutions.

Taken together, Garlinghouse’s remarks outline a market environment where institutional engagement, regulatory progress, and established use cases are converging. In that setting, he believes crypto is not only capable of revisiting prior highs but also of establishing new ones.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics. His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker. His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.

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