Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Linked to White House Crypto Advisory Council

A seat on Donald Trump’s freshly minted crypto advisory council has become the most sought-after position in the capital. According to the New York Post, industry titans and major donors are battling it out to land one of the roughly two dozen seats — and the decisions this council makes will likely reverberate throughout the digital asset ecosystem for years to come, dictating everything from classification and regulation to the direction of U.S. innovation in blockchain technology.

Among the many industry heavyweights jostling for the spotlight, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, has reportedly surged to the front. Credible sources say his meeting with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago last month catapulted him to the top of the list, sparking a wave of speculation about his imminent role in the new administration.

Garlinghouse with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the beginning of a Crypto Bromance? Source: X

This development is also emblematic of Ripple’s growing policy presence. Once seen as a scrappy upstart pushing cross-border payments, Ripple now stands as a leading advocate in Washington, DC, for regulatory clarity around digital assets — clarity it didn’t get in the previous administration. If Garlinghouse is indeed tapped for the council, his influence could shape the conversation around cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, including whether tokens like XRP fall under the purview of the SEC or the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Even more crucially from the perspective of XRP investors, Garlinghouse would have an influence on the make-up of the proposed American National Digital Asset Stockpile. It makes sense that Ripple, as a U.S. company, would have its native cryptocurrency XRP included, but Garlinghouse’s involvement would make it a near certainty.  

Garlinghouse isn’t the only one making headlines. NYP Sources list former Kraken general counsel Marco Santori; Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire (who generously donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee); Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong; and Crypto.com’s Kris Marszalek as prime contenders.

Shortly after being sworn in, President Trump established the advisory board via executive order, signaling a sharp pivot from the previous administration’s stance on digital assets. The council’s mission? To champion innovation in blockchain and cryptocurrencies, an ecosystem many in the crypto community felt was “harassed” under the Biden era. It’s not just a symbolic group, either — these advisors will work in lockstep with newly appointed AI & Crypto Czar David Sacks, a venture capitalist who’s helped craft key executive orders from the Oval Office since day one.

David Sacks, Crypto Czar with Cynthia Lummis

Sacks’ portfolio extends beyond just crypto; he’s also leading the national charge into AI and next-generation tech. But for digital asset enthusiasts, his role in shaping how the U.S. defines and regulates crypto is the real headliner. By the end of Trump’s second term, the council’s decisions on whether various tokens are considered commodities or securities will likely define the regulatory “rules of the road” for decades.

From stablecoins and central bank digital currencies to the possibility of an America-first strategic crypto reserve, the Trump White House appears eager to differentiate itself from the regulatory uncertainty of the past. Already, President Trump has tapped pro-crypto figures like Paul Atkins as SEC Chair, and there’s even talk of prioritizing homegrown digital coins like Solana, USD Coin, and of course, Ripple’s XRP.

Last week, Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), the parent company of Truth Social, officially filed trademark applications for a series of financial products under the “Truth.Fi” brand.

These offerings are:

• Truth.Fi Made in America ETF & SMA
• Truth.Fi U.S. Energy Independence ETF & SMA
• Truth.Fi Bitcoin Plus ETF & SMA

According to the Feb. 6 announcement, TMTG’s move will provide investors with alternatives to what it describes as “woke funds” and financial institutions that engage in “debanking.” Devin Nunes, TMTG’s chairman and former Republican congressman, said that the initiative is focused on backing American industry.

The Made in America ETF could be the much-discussed and highly anticipated investment vehicle for American-based crypto companies. These American-made digital assets could include Ripple’s XRP and Solana, and the stablecoin USDC.

Trump’s Truth.Fi ETF Filings. Source: X

Ultimately, this advisory board is poised to become one of the most influential bodies in the crypto landscape. The White House council has the White House megaphone, direct access to the president, and, perhaps most importantly, the ability to bring digital assets into the mainstream conversation on Capitol Hill. For those on the outside, failing to secure a seat could mean marginalization during a pivotal time when the rules for crypto are finally being drafted.

For now, Brad Garlinghouse appears poised to gain that influence. But it wouldn’t be Washington, DC if there weren’t a twist or two coming. As nominations roll out, expect more power plays, more rumors, and a few curveballs before the council is formally assembled.