Ripple CEO Garlinghouse: M&A may resume in H2 as XRP remains company focus
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said at an online XRP community event that while the company will prioritize business integration in the first half of 2026 and does not expect large-scale acquisitions in H1, it does not rule out restarting merger and acquisition activity in the second half of the year. Garlinghouse reiterated that "XRP is Ripple’s north star," and stated that all business lines—payments, custody, Ripple Prime, Ripple Treasury and the RLUSD stablecoin—are aligned to increase XRP and the XRP Ledger’s utility, trust and liquidity. No deal specifics, targets or timelines were announced. The comments signal potential future allocation of capital toward M&A depending on market and regulatory developments. (Primary keywords: Ripple, Brad Garlinghouse, XRP, M&A. Secondary/semantic keywords: XRP Ledger, Ripple Treasury, RLUSD, Ripple Prime, business integration, acquisitions.)
Neutral
Garlinghouse’s comments are cautiously constructive but non-committal. He signals that Ripple will focus on internal integration in H1 2026 and keeps the option open for M&A in H2. For traders, this is unlikely to produce an immediate, sustained price move because there are no concrete deals, targets, timelines, or capital commitments announced. The reiteration that "XRP is Ripple’s north star" supports long-term narrative and utility-focused positioning, which can be mildly bullish over the medium-to-long term if followed by tangible product adoption or liquidity improvements. Historically, M&A announcements or credible acquisition plans by major crypto firms can produce positive sentiment and price appreciation (e.g., exchange acquisitions or custody expansions), but mere intent or optional language typically generates only short-lived volatility. Key drivers to watch: any future deal announcements, regulatory developments (especially in the US), on-ledger activity and liquidity metrics for XRP, and updates on Ripple’s product lines (Ripple Prime, RLUSD, custody). In short-term, expect limited market reaction; medium-to-long-term impact depends on whether Ripple executes acquisitions that materially expand XRP use cases or market access.