TLDR
- Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, likened stablecoins to the “ChatGPT moment” that will drive mainstream business adoption of cryptocurrency
- Transaction volumes for stablecoins exceeded $33 trillion during 2025, with Tether and Circle dominating the market
- Analysts at Bloomberg forecast stablecoin transaction flows will climb to $56.6 trillion by the end of the decade
- RLUSD, Ripple’s proprietary stablecoin introduced in December 2024, has achieved a $1.4 billion market capitalization
- The CEO believes proposed legislation like the CLARITY Act will accelerate blockchain and stablecoin integration
Brad Garlinghouse, the chief executive of Ripple, believes stablecoins are positioned to serve as the primary gateway for enterprise adoption of cryptocurrency — drawing parallels to ChatGPT’s revolutionary impact on artificial intelligence.
During a Friday interview with FOX Business, Garlinghouse revealed that executives from Fortune 500 and Fortune 2000 corporations are increasingly consulting their chief financial officers and treasury departments about stablecoin strategies.
“Providing treasury departments and CFOs with this capability represents a fundamental breakthrough,” he explained.
He characterized this development as the “ChatGPT moment of crypto” — a pivotal juncture where enterprises move beyond theoretical discussions about blockchain technology and begin implementing practical applications.
Transaction volumes for stablecoins surpassed $33 trillion throughout 2025. While this represents substantial growth, approximately 90% of this activity was concentrated in two dominant tokens: Tether and Circle’s USDC.
According to Bloomberg Intelligence forecasts, this trajectory will accelerate dramatically. Their analysis suggests stablecoin transaction flows may expand at an 80% compound annual growth rate, potentially achieving $56.6 trillion by 2030.
Ripple’s Own Stablecoin Play
Ripple has moved beyond commentary to direct participation in the stablecoin ecosystem — launching Ripple USD, abbreviated as RLUSD, in December 2024.
RLUSD has secured the position as the 10th largest stablecoin measured by market capitalization, currently valued at $1.4 billion 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, the company purchased GTreasury, a corporate treasury management platform, for $1 billion. Both strategic acquisitions were finalized during the previous year.
Garlinghouse indicated that Ripple is poised to achieve a “record quarter” and has experienced tremendous momentum following the completion of these major deals.
Regulation Could Decide the Pace
Garlinghouse highlighted the CLARITY Act as critical legislation that could dramatically accelerate stablecoin deployment throughout the United States.
He emphasized the importance of regulatory clarity and expressed concerns regarding previous regulatory frameworks implemented under former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler.
“We need to ensure we don’t experience another Gary Gensler scenario where regulatory authority becomes weaponized for political purposes rather than serving America’s best interests,” he stated.
He noted that industry stakeholders are closely monitoring the development of US regulatory frameworks and whether meaningful legislation will be enacted.
Ripple’s RLUSD maintains a $1.4 billion market capitalization, positioning it as a smaller competitor relative to Tether and USDC while still ranking among the world’s top ten stablecoins.
Regulation and Market Outlook
The stablecoin industry facilitated over $33 trillion in transaction volume during 2025, and Bloomberg’s $56.6 trillion projection for 2030 would establish stablecoins as among the most widely utilized payment mechanisms in international finance.
Garlinghouse’s statements arrive as Ripple continues broadening its presence in institutional payment services following its $2.25 billion acquisition spree completed last year.
