TLDR
- Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, drew comparisons between stablecoin adoption and ChatGPT’s transformative effect on AI
- Trading volume for stablecoins surpassed $33 trillion during 2025, with Tether and Circle dominating the market
- Analysts at Bloomberg forecast stablecoin transaction flows will climb to $56.6 trillion within the next five years
- RLUSD, Ripple’s proprietary stablecoin, entered the market in December 2024 and currently holds a $1.4 billion valuation
- The CLARITY Act could accelerate mainstream acceptance of stablecoins and distributed ledger technology, according to Garlinghouse
Brad Garlinghouse, chief executive of Ripple, believes stablecoins are positioned to serve as the primary gateway for corporate adoption of digital assets — drawing a comparison to ChatGPT’s catalytic effect on artificial intelligence.
During a Friday interview with FOX Business, Garlinghouse shared that executives from Fortune 500 and Fortune 2000 enterprises are actively consulting their chief financial officers and treasury departments about stablecoin strategies.
“Providing treasury leaders and CFOs with this capability represents a fundamental breakthrough,” he explained.
Garlinghouse characterized this development as “the ChatGPT moment of crypto” — a pivotal threshold where companies move beyond theoretical discussions about blockchain technology and begin practical implementation.
Trading activity for stablecoins exceeded $33 trillion throughout 2025. While this figure appears substantial, approximately 90% originated from two dominant players: Tether and Circle’s USDC.
Research from Bloomberg Intelligence anticipates rapid expansion ahead. Their analysis suggests stablecoin transaction volumes could experience an 80% compound annual growth rate, potentially reaching $56.6 trillion before the end of the decade.
Ripple’s Own Stablecoin Play
Ripple has moved beyond commentary to active participation in the stablecoin ecosystem — introducing Ripple USD (RLUSD) in December 2024.
RLUSD currently ranks as the tenth-largest stablecoin measured by market capitalization, holding $1.4 billion in value based on CoinGecko data.
Ripple has simultaneously expanded its payment processing capabilities. The firm acquired Hidden Road, a prime brokerage serving institutional clients, in a $1.25 billion transaction.
Additionally, Ripple purchased GTreasury, a corporate treasury management platform, for $1 billion. Both transactions concluded during the previous year.
Garlinghouse indicated Ripple expects a “record quarter” and has experienced significant momentum following the completion of these strategic acquisitions.
Regulation Could Decide the Pace
Garlinghouse highlighted the CLARITY Act as critical legislation that may accelerate stablecoin integration throughout the United States.
He emphasized the importance of regulatory clarity, referencing apprehensions about previous policy frameworks implemented under former SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
“We need safeguards to prevent another situation like we experienced under Gary Gensler, where policy becomes weaponized for political purposes rather than serving the nation’s best interests,” he stated.
He noted that industry stakeholders are closely monitoring the development of US regulatory frameworks and their timeline for implementation.
Ripple’s RLUSD maintains a $1.4 billion market capitalization, positioning it as a smaller competitor relative to Tether and USDC while retaining its status among the top ten stablecoins worldwide.
Regulation and Market Outlook
The stablecoin industry facilitated over $33 trillion in transaction volume during 2025, and Bloomberg’s forecast of $56.6 trillion by 2030 would establish it as among the most widely utilized payment mechanisms in international finance.
Garlinghouse delivered these observations as Ripple continues expanding its presence in institutional payment systems following $2.25 billion worth of acquisitions completed last year.
