Canceled Senatorial Dialogue with Ripple CEO Underscores Crypto Ideological Divides and Political Complexities
Brad Garlinghouse, the chief executive of blockchain payments firm Ripple, has publicly expressed discontent over the cancellation of a planned meeting with U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).
The Senator, who presides over the Senate’s Digital Assets Subcommittee, reportedly annulled the engagement without offering to reschedule, a development Garlinghouse highlighted on May 19.
This situation unfolds even as reports suggest former President Donald Trump intends to include XRP, Ripple’s native cryptocurrency, within a prospective U.S. national digital asset reserve—a concept Senator Lummis has actively promoted, albeit with a strong preference for Bitcoin through her proposed BITCOIN Act.
Familial Bitcoin Advocacy and Its Potential Influence
The narrative surrounding the aborted meeting is further complicated by the public pronouncements of Will Cole, Senator Lummis’s son-in-law. Cole, an avowed Bitcoin maximalist mirroring Lummis’s stance, has been identified as a persistent critic of Ripple.
This familial connection and Cole’s critical views were brought to light by the X (formerly Twitter) account Cowboy.Crypto, which pointed to Cole’s sharing of posts from individuals like Catholic Bitcoin CEO Pierre Rochard, who accuse Ripple of undermining Bitcoin and excessively promoting Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).
In response to this information, Garlinghouse termed the revelation “enlightening” and openly questioned whether the decision to cancel the meeting originated with Senator Lummis herself or from within her staff.
Adding weight to these observations, crypto law commentator Bill Morgan shared evidence of Cole’s past criticisms of Ripple and XRP dating back to 2021 and 2022, often centered on Ripple’s alleged centralized operational structure.
Persistent Fissures: The Bitcoin versus XRP Dynamic
The differing philosophies championed by Bitcoin and XRP adherents represent a long-standing and often impassioned debate within the digital asset space.
Bitcoin, the preeminent cryptocurrency by market value, frequently draws criticism for its energy-intensive mining processes and associated environmental concerns.
In contrast, XRP, currently the fourth-largest digital currency, is often targeted for its perceived centralized governance under Ripple’s stewardship.
An example of the environmental critique against Bitcoin was the 2023 “Skull of Satoshi” art installation, a collaboration between Canadian artist Benjamin Von Wong and Greenpeace USA, which notably received support from Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen.
Despite these deep-seated ideological differences, Garlinghouse has recently initiated efforts to bridge these divides, including donating the “Skull of Satoshi” installation to the broader crypto community.
He emphasized that the various crypto communities, including those around BTC and XRP, possess “more in common than we think.”
Political Engagements and Regulatory Undertones
The tensions between Bitcoin and XRP supporters are also inseparably linked to the political arena.
Ripple has made substantial political contributions connected to Donald Trump, including personal donations in XRP by its Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, to Trump’s 2024 campaign, and a significant XRP donation by Ripple Labs to his inaugural committee.
This political engagement is set against the backdrop of Ripple’s protracted legal confrontation with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regarding alleged securities violations.
Notably, reports emerged suggesting that the SEC explored potential settlement avenues with Ripple following Trump’s previous election victory.
Also Read: Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Announces SEC Lawsuit Withdrawal
