Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is widely regarded as one of the best leaders in the crypto industry, steering the company to a $40 billion valuation through strategic investments, acquisitions, and regulatory triumphs. Lawyer John Deaton has praised his visionary approach in cross-border payments and stablecoin innovations.
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Ripple’s $40 billion valuation stems from a $500 million funding round led by Fortress and Citadel, affirming strong market confidence.
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Ripple has bolstered its position with key acquisitions like Hidden Road for $1.25 billion and Rail for $200 million, enhancing stablecoin infrastructure.
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The XRP token has surged 331% year-over-year, reaching a $150 billion market cap, while RLUSD stablecoin hit $1.02 billion, up 1,825% since launch.
Discover why Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse leads the crypto pack with a $40B valuation. Explore acquisitions, partnerships, and XRP’s rise in this in-depth analysis. Stay ahead in blockchain—read now!
What Makes Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse the Best in Crypto?
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stands out as arguably the premier executive in the cryptocurrency sector due to his adept navigation of regulatory challenges and execution of growth strategies that have elevated Ripple to a $40 billion valuation. Under his leadership, the company has secured substantial investments, including a $500 million funding round from Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities, while expanding through strategic acquisitions. This success not only validates earlier endorsements from supporters like lawyer John Deaton but also positions Ripple as a frontrunner in cross-border payments and stablecoins.
How Has Ripple’s Recent Valuation Boosted Investor Confidence?
Ripple’s achievement of a $40 billion valuation marks a significant milestone, reflecting robust investor trust amid a maturing crypto landscape. This figure emerged from a $500 million private funding round announced in late 2025, led by prominent investors Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities, as reported by various financial news outlets. Earlier in the year, Ripple executed a $1 billion tender offer at the same valuation, providing liquidity to employees and early stakeholders without diluting equity.
Before this infusion, private market shares for Ripple traded between $150 and $170, implying a valuation range of $22 billion to $30 billion, according to a Forbes analysis in October 2025. The jump to $40 billion now places Ripple in direct rivalry with established players like Circle, the USDC issuer valued at around $34 billion following its June public listing. This valuation surge underscores Ripple’s resilience, particularly after enduring prolonged scrutiny from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which recently concluded with favorable outcomes for the company.
Expert observers highlight Garlinghouse’s strategic foresight as pivotal. John Deaton, a prominent lawyer and vocal XRP advocate, reiterated his longstanding praise for Garlinghouse on social media platform X, stating, “Three years ago, I said Garlinghouse was arguably the best CEO in crypto. Some folks disagreed. Ripple’s latest valuation… is now at $40B. I believe my comment has aged well.” Deaton’s defense of Ripple during its SEC battles has lent credibility to his assessments, emphasizing the CEO’s ability to deliver shareholder value in a volatile industry.
Furthermore, the valuation aligns with tangible business expansions. Ripple’s XRP token, while not equity, has experienced explosive growth, climbing 331% over the past year to a market capitalization approaching $150 billion. This performance correlates with broader ecosystem developments, including the rapid adoption of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, which boasts a $1.02 billion market cap—a staggering 1,825% increase since its debut on major exchanges. These metrics demonstrate how Garlinghouse’s focus on real-world utility has translated into market dominance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Ripple’s Key Acquisitions Under Brad Garlinghouse’s Leadership?
Ripple has pursued aggressive expansion through acquisitions to fortify its infrastructure for cross-border payments and stablecoins. In mid-2025, it acquired Hidden Road, an asset brokerage firm, for $1.25 billion, integrating prime brokerage, clearing, and multi-asset capabilities. Additionally, the $200 million purchase of Rail enhanced stablecoin payment systems with virtual accounts and automated backends, while the earlier $250 million deal for Metaco added advanced digital asset custody and tokenization services from the Swiss provider. These moves, totaling over $1.7 billion, position Ripple for scalable, efficient operations in the blockchain space.
How Will the Ripple-Mastercard Partnership Impact RLUSD Adoption?
The partnership between Ripple, Mastercard, WebBank, and Gemini aims to integrate RLUSD into fiat card transaction settlements on the XRP Ledger, creating seamless blockchain-based mechanisms for everyday payments. Initial onboarding is slated for the coming months, subject to regulatory nods, which could dramatically expand RLUSD’s use cases beyond crypto trading into mainstream finance. This collaboration leverages Mastercard’s global network to test stablecoin efficiency, potentially accelerating adoption and reinforcing Ripple’s role in bridging traditional and digital economies.
Key Takeaways
- Ripple’s $40 Billion Valuation: Driven by a $500 million funding round from Fortress and Citadel, this milestone highlights CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s ability to attract institutional capital amid regulatory clarity.
- Strategic Acquisitions Fuel Growth: Deals like Hidden Road ($1.25B) and Rail ($200M) strengthen Ripple’s stablecoin and payment infrastructure, addressing key scalability needs in cross-border transactions.
- XRP and RLUSD Momentum: With XRP up 331% to $150B market cap and RLUSD surging 1,825% to $1.02B, investors should monitor partnerships like Mastercard to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the ecosystem.
Conclusion
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s leadership has propelled the company from regulatory headwinds to a commanding $40 billion valuation, bolstered by pivotal acquisitions and innovative stablecoin developments like RLUSD. As partnerships with giants such as Mastercard unfold, Ripple’s focus on practical blockchain applications signals a promising trajectory for cross-border payments and digital assets. Stakeholders and enthusiasts alike should watch closely, as these advancements could redefine the crypto industry’s integration with global finance in the years ahead.
Lawyer and XRP enthusiast John Deaton believes Ripple chief executive Brad Garlinghouse is arguably the “best CEO in crypto” for leading the cross-border settlement service and stablecoin issuer into a $40 billion valuation.
Deaton, who has long defended Ripple and its leadership during the company’s regulatory battles with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, said the firm’s recent valuation vindicates his earlier assessment.
“Three years ago, I said Garlinghouse was arguably the best CEO in crypto. Some folks disagreed. Ripple’s latest valuation, evidenced by the $500M investment from Citadel & Fortress, is now at $40B. I believe my comment has aged well,” he wrote on X Thursday.
His post also referenced news of the San Francisco-based blockchain firm’s $500 million funding round led by Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities, as reported by Cryptopolitan. Ripple confirmed the valuation on Wednesday, adding that it had also conducted a $1 billion tender offer earlier this year at the same price point.
Lawyer Deaton: Garlinghouse is not done yet
In an X post made in mid-October, the US Marine veteran turned attorney mentioned that the company made several acquisitions, including asset brokerage Hidden Road, in a deal worth $1.25 billion.
Around the same time, Ripple purchased payments firm Rail for $200 million to add virtual account and automated backend systems to its technology stack for fast and scalable stablecoin-based transactions.
Ripple has acquired:
Hidden Road for $1.25B: Prime Brokerage/Clearing/Multi-asset infrastructure;
Rail for $200M: Bolsters Ripple’s stablecoin infrastructure payments – adds virtual account & automated backend and strengthens its competitive position in stablecoin-based…
— John E Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) October 16, 2025
Earlier this year, the RLUSD issuer finalized the $250 million purchase of Metaco, a Swiss digital asset custody and tokenization provider.
Ripple’s market valuation adds to confidence
Ripple has indeed come a long way in the last 12 months, a company that at one point was on the US President Donald Trump’s bad side for supposedly aiding his 2024 presidential election opponent, former VP Kamala Harris.
According to a report by Forbes in late October, Ripple’s private market shares were trading between $150 and $170, valuing the company between $22 billion and $30 billion before the latest funding.
The new $40 billion valuation puts it in direct competition with Circle, the issuer of USDC, which went public in June and is valued at approximately $34 billion.
Though XRP does not represent equity ownership in Ripple, the token has surged 331% year-over-year, reaching a market capitalization of nearly $150 billion. Stablecoin RLUSD now has a market cap of $1.02 billion, a 1,825% uptick since it debuted on crypto exchanges.
XRP Ledger may be trailing other altcoin blockchains like Solana and Ethereum in developer activity and decentralized application usage, but investors and analysts say the company’s business fundamentals cover its biggest shortcomings.
“Sometimes people view change as bad. I think that’s actually a sign of health and greatness, especially in emerging technologies,” said Joe Naggar, chief executive and chief investment officer of crypto hedge fund Feynman Point Asset Management, which holds a stake in Ripple.
Naggar coined Ripple as a “poster child” for how crypto firms can thrive in a clearer regulatory environment, and that it is “showing thoughtfulness,” but it wasn’t able to fully actualize because of the regulatory overhang and the US SEC dark cloud.
“That thoughtfulness makes them different from all the other protocols with large treasuries, those that have foundations that lack real leadership and don’t know who they are serving. If you ask Brad Garlinghouse, the answer is very clear to him: it’s his shareholders.”
Ripple Mastercard partnership to add RLUSD use cases
On Wednesday, Ripple announced a new collaboration with Mastercard, WebBank, and Gemini to expand the use of Ripple USD (RLUSD) on the XRP Ledger. The project is meant to facilitate stablecoin settlement for fiat card transactions, testing how RLUSD can serve as a blockchain-based settlement mechanism between Mastercard and WebBank, the issuer of the Gemini Credit Card.
In the coming months, Ripple and its partners plan to begin initial onboarding for RLUSD on the XRP Ledger, pending regulatory approval.
