Ripple CEO Forecasts Record Q1 2026 Growth Amid Regulatory Concerns

ChainCatcher reports that Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple Labs, stated in an interview that the company’s business continues to accelerate due to mergers and acquisitions, with expectations of a “record-breaking” first quarter of 2026. Garlinghouse noted that Ripple invested approximately $4 billion into the crypto ecosystem in 2025 through investments and acquisitions, including the purchases of Hidden Road ($1.25 billion) and GTreasury ($1 billion), significantly strengthening its position in institutional services and financial infrastructure. On the regulatory front, he remains generally optimistic about the outlook for U.S. digital asset policy but expects the CLARITY Act to be enacted later than previously anticipated, delayed from late April to late May. He also warned that if policy is “weaponized” for political gain rather than to advance industry growth, it could negatively impact innovation. “The market is closely watching whether the U.S. regulatory framework can be implemented—we need to avoid returning to the policy uncertainty seen during Gary Gensler’s tenure,” Garlinghouse said. Currently, the crypto industry and traditional financial institutions are still negotiating key legislative details, including critical issues such as stablecoin yields, creating some resistance to regulatory progress.