Ripple CEO: Record Growth Expected in Q1, Warns of Regulatory 'Weaponization' Hindering Crypto Innovation

On March 28, Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated in an interview that the company’s business continues to accelerate, driven by mergers and acquisitions, and is expected to achieve a ‘record’ performance in the first quarter of 2026. Garlinghouse noted that Ripple invested approximately $4 billion into the crypto ecosystem in 2025 through investments and acquisitions, including the acquisition of Hidden Road for $1.25 billion and GTreasury for $1 billion, significantly enhancing the company’s positioning in institutional services and financial infrastructure. On the regulatory front, he remains generally optimistic about the prospects for U.S. digital asset policy but expects the implementation of the CLARITY Act to be delayed from the previously anticipated late April to late May. He also warned that if policies are ‘weaponized’ for political gamesmanship rather than promoting industry development, it could negatively impact innovation. ‘The market is highly concerned about whether the U.S. regulatory framework can be established; we need to avoid a repeat of the policy uncertainty seen during the Gary Gensler era,’ Garlinghouse stated. Currently, the crypto industry and traditional financial institutions are still negotiating legislative details, including key issues such as stablecoin yields, facing certain resistance in the regulatory process.