Tag: Brad Garlinghouse

  • Ripple CEO Says Crypto Adoption Can Thrive Even as CLARITY Act Stalls in Senate

    Ripple CEO Says Crypto Adoption Can Thrive Even as CLARITY Act Stalls in Senate

    Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says the crypto industry has more than one path to growth, even as the U.S. CLARITY Act remains stuck in Congress. The bill, designed to provide clearer federal rules for digital assets, failed to advance in the Senate last week.

    What Happened With the CLARITY Act?

    The Senate voted 49–50 against moving the CLARITY Act forward, well short of the 60 votes needed to proceed. The legislation would have clarified which federal agencies oversee different segments of the crypto market and given companies a more defined compliance roadmap.

    Garlinghouse: Technology and Adoption Matter More Than Legislation

    Speaking at a digital asset conference in Kansas City on September 15, Garlinghouse said crypto growth doesn’t depend on any single bill. He pointed to faster, more efficient blockchain technology as a key adoption driver.

    “The industry can keep building, and users can keep adopting the technology while lawmakers debate new rules,” Garlinghouse emphasized.

    Market Impact and Ripple’s Legal Battle

    The Senate setback added fresh uncertainty to U.S. crypto policy, and the market reacted sharply. Roughly $571 million in crypto long positions were liquidated across exchanges following the vote.

    Separately, Ripple has spent more than $150 million defending itself in an ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company remains focused on expanding its cross-border payment solutions despite regulatory headwinds.

    Why This Matters for Crypto Companies

    Clearer rules would make it easier for companies to launch new products and services, but innovation isn’t on hold. Real-world use cases, lower costs, and faster settlement times continue to attract users regardless of legislative progress.

    Garlinghouse’s remarks underscore a broader industry sentiment: while clear regulation is welcome, the long-term growth of crypto isn’t dependent on any one piece of legislation.

  • Bitcoin Faces Critical Third Quarter as Strategy’s Losses Mount and STRC Comes Under Pressure

    Bitcoin Faces Critical Third Quarter as Strategy’s Losses Mount and STRC Comes Under Pressure

    Bitcoin’s latest decline has renewed concerns over whether the market is entering a longer bear phase. The asset has fallen for two straight quarters, while Strategy’s unrealized loss and pressure on its preferred shares have added another source of risk.

    Bitcoin fell about 22% in the first quarter and 12.2% in the second quarter. A third negative quarter would mark its first run of three straight quarterly losses since 2022, when Bitcoin ended the year more than 65% lower.

    Bitcoin Enters a Critical Third Quarter

    Bitcoin recently fell below $59,000 as traders reduced exposure to risky assets. The decline has raised doubts about whether the current move is a normal pullback or part of a wider downtrend. Market observers are asking if it is still too early to call the current risk-off phase anything apart from a full-blown bear market, as quarterly losses deepen. The comparison with 2022 has gained attention since Bitcoin has not recorded three bearish quarters in a row since that cycle.

    The third quarter may now become a key test. Another quarterly loss would place Bitcoin in a pattern last seen in its worst annual decline. Nevertheless, the current drop remains smaller than the 2022 collapse, and the final outcome will depend on price movements through September.

    Selling pressure has also spread to companies linked to Bitcoin. Strategy’s common shares recently dropped below $85.50 and closed near $82 on Friday, their lowest level since February 2024.

    Strategy’s Funding Model Comes Under Pressure

    Strategy holds one of the largest corporate Bitcoin reserves, but falling prices have left the company with about $14 billion in unrealized losses. Its STRC preferred shares also carry an 11.5% annual dividend, equal to roughly $1.2 billion in yearly payments. STRC was designed to trade near $100 and provide Strategy with funds for more Bitcoin purchases. Yet the shares fell as much as 26% below that level and reached a record low. The drop has raised doubts about the company’s ability to issue more shares on favorable terms.

    CryptoQuant said Strategy should pause Bitcoin purchases and rebuild its cash holdings. The firm estimated that cash coverage for STRC dividends has fallen from more than seven years to about 14 months. When STRC trades below its intended value, new issuance becomes less attractive. Strategy has therefore paused that part of its funding process. Analyst Mark Palmer said the model has become “less efficient” rather than broken and rejected comparisons with failed crypto projects.

    Ripple CEO Questions Strategy’s Bitcoin Approach

    Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said he remains bullish on Bitcoin but criticized Strategy’s preferred-share model. In a Friday interview, he described the structure as “financial engineering” that had distracted the market from long-term utility. “Financial engineering does not drive long-term value,” Garlinghouse said. He added that a digital asset’s value should come from practical use rather than complex funding structures. Garlinghouse called STRC’s fall below its $100 target a “damning indictment” of Strategy’s approach, focusing on the company’s financing method rather than Bitcoin itself.

    Meanwhile, Arkham Intelligence said the situation does not resemble the Terra-LUNA collapse. Still, falling Strategy shares, weak STRC demand, and reduced funding capacity have raised doubts about future Bitcoin purchases.

    Bitcoin now enters the third quarter under pressure from lower prices and tighter funding conditions. A third straight quarterly loss would create a pattern not seen since the 2022 bear market.