Ripple CEO Says XRP Fits Some Payments, Stablecoins Better for Others

Ripple chief executive Brad Garlinghouse told a January interview that XRP is not a universal solution for every payment scenario. He highlighted that stablecoins can address specific use cases more effectively, while XRP continues to serve as a bridge asset for other cross‑border flows.

Asset choice depends on the payment requirement

Garlinghouse said the decision between XRP and a stablecoin should be driven by the characteristics of the transaction. For some transfers, XRP may be the optimal bridge, whereas a stablecoin could solve the problem better in other cases.

Ripple Payments platform supports multiple settlement assets

The company’s Ripple Payments product now allows businesses to settle using RLUSD, USDC, USDT, fiat currencies or XRP, depending on jurisdictional and business needs. The settlement layer is described as “decoupled from any single issuer’s token,” enabling new stablecoins to be added without redesigning the infrastructure.

Stablecoin expansion and new integrations

Ripple’s dollar‑backed stablecoin RLUSD is positioned for payments, remittances and treasury flows. In June, Ripple announced the addition of Bitso’s peso‑backed MXNB stablecoin to its ledger, expanding settlement options for U.S.–Mexico transactions.

No shift away from XRP

Garlinghouse did not indicate that Ripple is abandoning XRP. The firm continues to describe XRP as a bridge asset for fast, low‑cost cross‑border transfers, while offering stablecoins for use cases that benefit from a fixed‑value token.

Regulatory backdrop

The interview predates the Senate’s September 15 vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, which failed to achieve cloture. Ripple reiterated its stance that the outcome does not alter its view of XRP’s regulatory classification as a digital commodity.