Crypto: Ripple CEO predicts new all-time high

The crypto market is starting to lift its head again after turbulent weeks. And when the boss of Ripple wets himself in public, the signal deserves to be decoded. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, says he expects a new all-time high in the crypto market. He said this during an appearance on CNBC, saying he was “very bullish” and ready to “go on the record” with this prediction.

Garlinghouse puts his credibility on the table

This release is not another tweet in the ambient noise. Garlinghouse speaks like an executive who knows every word will be dissected by regulators, banks and investors. His idea is simple, almost brutal. Optimism is returning because the bitcoin sector is weathering the storm without losing its supporters, but above all because the nature of the sector is changing. He insists on a transition that resembles a decade shift.

It also provides a useful nuance for reading the market. According to him, part of this dynamic is not yet integrated into valuations. In other words, the market “sees” the movement, but does not “pay” for it yet. When Garlinghouse speaks of “massive sea change”, he is mainly targeting Wall Street. The gradual entry of large institutions is transforming demand. Fewer short bets, more allocation theses.

We have already seen this during the euphoric phases of 2025. Flows towards listed products and the appetite for bitcoin accompanied the acceleration towards new heights. But this engine has a particularity. It does not run continuously. It stops when the political framework becomes unclear, when liquidity becomes tighter, or when risk committees scale back. Even the most optimistic admit it after the post-record correction of October 2025.

The law as a switch: CLARITY and the rest

Crypto has never been allergic to risk. She was especially allergic to blur. In the United States, the question is no longer just “is it legal?”, but “who monitors what, and how?”. The CLARITY Act embodies this battle of borders. The text exists, is moving forward, and its institutional journey is public. This is exactly the kind of milestone that can bring back actors who have remained on the threshold.

However, be careful of the automatic reflex “one law = pump”. Markets anticipate, then disappoint, then reassess. Regulation can free adoption, but it can also impose costs, obligations, and therefore a harsher selection between solid projects and empty promises.

XRP and the post-hype: an aging industry

Garlinghouse isn't just selling a price scenario. He sells a trajectorywith a five or ten year horizon, focused on payments, stablecoins and infrastructure. It's less spectacular, but more coherent when talking to institutions.

In this story, XRP becomes a “use” asset, not just a “cycle” asset. The argument is strategic. If the use cases stabilize, volatility ends up losing some of its narrative power.

There remains the reality of a market that loves shortcuts. An ATH on crypto is possible, especially if institutional demand and regulatory clarity strengthens. But the road may feel like a bumpy track, not a highway. And this is often where the difference between conviction and simple enthusiasm is made.