Crypto: Ripple CEO Predicts a New All-Time High

The crypto market is starting to lift its head again after turbulent weeks. And when the head of Ripple takes a public stand, the signal deserves decoding. Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, says he expects a new all-time high in the crypto market. He stated this during an appearance on CNBC, calling himself “very bullish” and ready to “go on the record” with this forecast.

Garlinghouse puts his credibility on the line

This statement is not just another tweet in the background noise. Garlinghouse speaks like a leader 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 support, but mainly because the nature of the sector is changing. He emphasizes a transition that feels like a decade shift.

He also adds a useful nuance for reading the market. According to him, part of this dynamic is not yet priced in valuations. In other words, the market “sees” the movement but does not yet “pay” for it. When Garlinghouse talks about a “massive sea change,” he is mainly referring to Wall Street. The gradual entry of large institutions is transforming demand. Less short betting, more allocation theses.

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

Law as a switch: CLARITY and the rest

Crypto has never been allergic to risk. It has mostly been allergic to uncertainty. In the United States, the question is no longer only “is it legal?” but “who watches what, and how?” The CLARITY Act embodies this border battle. The text exists, is progressing, and its institutional path is public. It’s exactly the kind of milestone that can bring back players who stayed on the sidelines.

Be careful though with the automatic reflex “a law = pump.” Markets anticipate, then disappoint, then reevaluate. Regulation can free adoption, but it can also impose costs, obligations, and therefore a tougher selection between solid projects and hollow promises.

XRP and the post-hype: an industry aging

Garlinghouse is not just selling a price scenario. He is selling a trajectory, with a five- or ten-year horizon, centered on payments, stablecoins, and infrastructure. It’s less spectacular, but more coherent to speak to institutional investors.

In this narrative, XRP becomes a “use” asset, not just a “cycle” asset. The argument is strategic. If use cases stabilize, volatility eventually loses some of its narrative power.

The reality remains of a market that loves shortcuts. An ATH for crypto is possible, especially if institutional demand and regulatory clarity strengthen. But the road can look like a bumpy track, not a highway. And that is often where the difference is made between conviction and mere enthusiasm.