Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Responds to Lummis' Rejection

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Surprised After Rejection by Pro-crypto Senator Cynthia Lummis

20 May 2025 at 16: 24

Reading time: 2 minutes

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has expressed frustration after a meeting with pro-crypto U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis, who leads the Senate Digital Assets Subcommittee, was canceled. On May 19, Garlinghouse announced via a post on X that he was in Washington DC for talks with lawmakers to promote reasonable regulation of stablecoins and crypto market structure. Unfortunately, he found that the meeting with Senator Lummis had been canceled with no option to reschedule.

While Garlinghouse acknowledges Lummis’s generally pro-crypto stance, he encourages her to reconsider her decision, stating, “I invite you to join the conversation anytime in an X Space (or live on stage at one of the many events we meet at) to discuss how we can make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world, as was the goal of the Trump administration. I will continue to do whatever I can to support that goal.”

Speculation in the crypto community about the cancellation

The cancellation of the meeting has caused much speculation within the crypto community. Some critics saw Garlinghouse's public complaint as unnecessary, while others accused Senator Lummis of being biased in favor of Bitcoin. Pierre Rochard, CEO of Bitcoin Bond Company, suggested that Lummis may have turned down the meeting because of Garlinghouse’s support for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which many Bitcoin advocates oppose. He said: “You have ruined your reputation and lost all your credibility by advocating for CBDCs and against Bitcoin.”

Meanwhile, members of the XRP community were also concerned about a potential personal conflict of interest. An account named Cowboy Crypto points out that Lummis’ son-in-law, Will Cole, is a Bitcoin advocate who has ridiculed Ripple in the past. Cole, who works for Bitcoin payments company Zaprite, has shared content mocking Garlinghouse. The account also highlighted Lummis’ financial ties to investment firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and her family’s deep connections to Bitcoin.

Garlinghouse acknowledged the facts of the situation, noting that it was “rather illuminating” that Will Cole is related to Senator Lummis. However, his lack of successful contact with the lawmaker after six years of effort is concerning. This led him to question whether the decision to cancel the meeting came directly from Lummis or her staff.

“The world of crypto is exciting and full of surprises,” one might almost say, right?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the meeting with Senator Lummis cancelled?
The meeting was cancelled with no possibility of rescheduling, leading to speculation about the reasons behind this decision.

What is Garlinghouse's response to the cancellation?
Garlinghouse expressed his frustration and invited Lummis for a conversation to collaborate on developing crypto regulations.

Are there any personal conflicts of interest involved?
Yes, concerns have been raised about Senator Lummis' personal connections, particularly with regard to her son-in-law, who is a Bitcoin advocate.

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