Ripple Holds Over $100B in XRP, Confirms Garlinghouse After Rally

• Ripple holds over $100B in XRP, fueling its strong valuation and market leadership in blockchain infrastructure.
• Regulatory optimism and rising demand position Ripple for significant growth, with a potential IPO by 2026.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently disclosed that the company holds over $100 billion worth of XRP tokens. Speaking with Devin Ryan of JMP Securities, Garlinghouse highlighted this significant figure, emphasizing its importance to Ripple’s valuation.

Reflecting on Ripple’s progress, Garlinghouse expressed excitement for 2025 and the company’s focus on real-world utility. According to a CNF update, he shared in a recent interview that Ripple was last valued at $11 billion following a 2024 share buyback. However, Garlinghouse called this valuation outdated, hinting at a much higher current valuation.

Despite trading at a discount in private markets, Ripple continues to strengthen its position as a leader in blockchain infrastructure for financial institutions.

IPO Plans Take a Backseat

For years, speculation has swirled about Ripple pursuing an initial public offering (IPO). Garlinghouse clarified that the company deprioritized going public under the previous SEC administration, citing unfavorable conditions.

Now, with the departure of SEC Chair Gary Gensler, Ripple is optimistic about regulatory shifts that could reshape the crypto industry. This optimism aligns with the growing demand for Ripple’s custody solutions and its stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD).

Bright Prospects for Ripple’s Future

Garlinghouse expressed confidence in Ripple’s trajectory, citing robust demand for its offerings. Ripple’s recent expansion of U.S.-based job openings reflects a renewed focus on the domestic market, signaling a shift from its earlier global hiring strategy.

As Ripple positions itself as the preferred blockchain partner for financial institutions, Garlinghouse acknowledged the challenges of rapid growth but emphasized the company’s solid foundation, stating, “We find ourselves in a really good place.”

In a related perspective, John E. Deaton, Founder of CryptoLawUS and Managing Partner of Deaton Law Firm, noted that Ripple’s decision not to prioritize going public under the previous SEC administration was strategic. Deaton speculated that a Ripple IPO could occur as early as late 2025 or the first quarter of 2026.

“@Ripple didn’t prioritize going public because that really didn’t make any sense under the previous SEC administration, maybe that changes in the future.”
—- @bgarlinghouse

I’ve already stated that I believe we see a Ripple IPO either in the last quarter of 2025 or the 1st… https://t.co/mEHkIqpkCb

— John E Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) January 6, 2025

Ripple’s trajectory appears poised for greater heights, bolstered by its massive XRP holdings, growing market demand, and a more favorable regulatory outlook. The company’s next moves could solidify its position as a key player in the evolving crypto landscape.

As of now, according to CoinMarketCap data, Ripple (XRP) is trading at $2.40, reflecting a 0.45% decrease in the past 24 hours but an 18.73% surge in the past week.