Ripple CEO praises Kamala Harris as crypto’s nuanced ally amid election turmoil

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed positive statements for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris during his presentation at D.C. Fintech Week. The crypto executive highlighted her sophisticated approach to digital assets compared to former President Donald Trump’s more aggressive stance.

In his remarks, Garlinghouse acknowledged the vocal nature of Trump’s campaign, noting that Trump came out early and very aggressively, declaring himself the ‘crypto president.’ In contrast, he emphasized that Kamala and Team Harris have been more nuanced.

Brad praises Harris for supporting crypto regulation, donates $10 million

The CEO also commended Harris for her recent announcement that if elected, she would support a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, calling her statement “most constructive.”

Though she hasn’t revealed much about her crypto intentions, her campaign launched its “opportunity agenda for Black men” last week. This agenda includes a desire to better regulate cryptocurrencies to protect Black men and others who invest in them.

Meanwhile, Ripple’s co-founder and executive chairman, Chris Larsen, recently donated an additional $10 million in XRP to Harris’s campaign, following a previous $1 million contribution. While Garlinghouse acknowledged that Vice President Harris has been “relatively quiet” on crypto compared to Trump, he portrayed her as a “pro-technology” leader with ties to Silicon Valley. 

Despite emphasizing that the upcoming election is crucial for the crypto industry, he suggested that either a Harris or Trump victory would be beneficial compared to the current administration.

Regardless of the outcome, we will see a reset and forward progress, moving away from the failed approach of the Biden Administration.

– Brad Garlinghouse

Ripple CEO expresses confidence in XRP ETF approval  

Garlinghouse expressed confidence that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would approve an exchange-traded fund (ETF) for XRP despite Ripple’s ongoing challenges with the regulator. Fund manager Bitwise recently filed for an XRP ETF, allowing investors to gain exposure to XRP without directly holding the cryptocurrency.

Ripple has faced increased scrutiny over its leadership’s political affiliations, particularly after Larsen’s substantial donations to Harris’s campaign amid Trump’s appeals to the crypto community. Some industry voices, like venture capitalist Nic Carter, criticized the donations, calling Larsen’s support for Harris “completely baffling.” 

The Ripple CEO stated that he would not back either presidential contender until November. But the position he’s established for himself and Ripple has already created some buzz in the sector.