Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says stablecoins are poised to become the defining breakthrough for business adoption of cryptocurrency, comparing their potential impact to that of ChatGPT in the artificial intelligence space. Speaking to FOX Business on Friday, Garlinghouse said executives at major corporations are already directing their financial teams to explore stablecoin strategies. He described this shift as a significant unlock for treasurers and chief financial officers seeking more efficient payment options.
Garlinghouse noted that giving corporate finance leaders access to stablecoin tools would serve as the entry point for businesses to tap into a wider range of blockchain-based services. He said boards of directors and chief executives at companies ranging from Fortune 500 to Fortune 2000 firms are actively asking their financial teams what steps are being taken in this area. The conversations, he suggested, reflect a broader recognition of stablecoins as a practical financial instrument rather than a speculative asset.
The scale of stablecoin activity already underscores their growing role in global finance. Garlinghouse pointed out that stablecoins processed more than $33 trillion in trading volume last year, though nearly 90% of that total was attributable to Tether‘s USDt and Circle‘s USDC. Separately, Bloomberg Intelligence projected in early January that stablecoin flows could grow at a compounded annual rate of 80%, potentially reaching $56.6 trillion by 2030.
Ripple entered the stablecoin market with the launch of Ripple USD, also known as RLUSD, in December 2024. According to data from CoinGecko, RLUSD currently ranks as the tenth largest stablecoin by market capitalization, valued at $1.4 billion. The launch positions Ripple as a direct competitor to the dominant players in the stablecoin sector.
Beyond stablecoins, Ripple has moved to expand its broader blockchain payments infrastructure through two major acquisitions. The company purchased institutional prime brokerage firm Hidden Road for $1.25 billion and corporate treasury platform GTreasury for $1 billion. Garlinghouse said Ripple has been performing strongly since completing those deals, describing the company as heading toward a record quarter.
On the regulatory front, Garlinghouse expressed support for the CLARITY Act, saying its passage and signing into law would accelerate both stablecoin adoption and broader blockchain integration across industries. He emphasized the importance of clear and consistent policy, warning against what he described as the politicization of crypto regulation. Referencing former SEC chair Gary Gensler, he said the industry needed to avoid a repeat of regulatory approaches he characterized as driven by politics rather than the national interest.
Garlinghouse’s comments reflect a wider industry expectation that regulatory clarity in the United States will play a decisive role in determining how quickly businesses integrate stablecoin payments into their operations. With significant capital already deployed and legislative developments being closely watched, the stablecoin sector appears to be at an inflection point. The outcome of congressional deliberations on the CLARITY Act is expected to shape the pace and scope of that transition.
Originally reported by CoinTelegraph.
