Ripple CEO Urges Equal Crypto Regulation and Bank Charter
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse urged regulators to apply equal crypto regulation to firms meeting AML, KYC, and OFAC standards. Speaking at DC FinTech Week, he said that granting cryptocurrency firms a national bank charter and access to a Federal Reserve master account would streamline fund transfers and integrate crypto into mainstream finance. He criticized banking lobby groups for blocking OCC approvals, warning that uneven rules hinder fair competition and industry growth.
Garlinghouse emphasized that leadership changes at the SEC or White House alone won’t resolve regulatory imbalance. He argued that consistent oversight and equal crypto regulation will foster innovation, protect users, and reduce systemic risk. Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Assembly Bill 471 highlights growing focus on crypto compliance by proposing new licensing requirements for digital asset businesses.
Bullish
Garlinghouse’s push for equal crypto regulation and a national bank charter is likely bullish for XRP. In the short term, positive sentiment may boost trading volumes as investors anticipate smoother integration between fiat and crypto via Federal Reserve master accounts. Longer term, regulatory clarity reduces systemic risk and encourages institutional adoption, potentially driving demand for XRP as a utility currency for cross-border settlements once Ripple secures a bank charter. Moreover, a level playing field could set a precedent for other crypto firms, further strengthening market stability.