Ripple CEO Highlights Canceled Meeting with Senator Lummis Amidst Family’s Critical Stance

Summary

• Canceled Senatorial Meeting: Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse publicly expressed disappointment after a scheduled meeting with Senator Cynthia Lummis, Chair of the Digital Assets Subcommittee, was canceled and not rescheduled, despite Ripple’s XRP being reportedly considered for U.S. digital asset reserves.

• Influence of Senator’s Son-in-Law: The cancellation is potentially complicated by the public criticism of Ripple from Senator Lummis’s son-in-law, Will Cole, a self-proclaimed Bitcoin maximalist, leading Garlinghouse to question the decision-making behind the meeting’s annulment.

• Persistent Bitcoin vs. XRP Divide: The incident highlights the ongoing ideological clash between Bitcoin and XRP communities, with criticisms focusing on XRP’s alleged centralization versus Bitcoin’s environmental impact—a debate Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen has engaged with.

• Political Dimensions and Outreach: Ripple has made significant political contributions linked to Donald Trump, and there were reports of the SEC exploring a settlement with Ripple after Trump’s election; meanwhile, Garlinghouse has made efforts to foster unity within the broader crypto community.

Garlinghouse Laments Scrapped Senatorial Dialogue

Brad Garlinghouse, chief executive of the prominent blockchain and payments enterprise Ripple, has publicly expressed his dissatisfaction regarding a reportedly canceled and unrescheduled meeting with Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY).

Lummis, who notably chairs the Senate’s Digital Assets Subcommittee, was the subject of Garlinghouse’s comments on May 19th, where he detailed the meeting’s cancellation.

This development occurs even as former President Donald Trump has reportedly indicated XRP, Ripple’s associated digital asset, will be part of the nation’s digital asset reserves—a strategy Senator Lummis aims to codify primarily for Bitcoin through her proposed BITCOIN Act.

Familial Connections and Public Criticism Emerge

Further complicating the narrative surrounding the canceled meeting is the public stance of Senator Lummis’s son-in-law, Will Cole.

Cole, who shares Lummis’s Bitcoin maximalist viewpoint, has been identified as a frequent and vocal critic of Ripple.

This connection was highlighted by a crypto-focused X account, Cowboy.Crypto, which pointed out Cole’s practice of sharing critical commentary from figures like Catholic Bitcoin CEO Pierre Rochard.

These shared posts typically accuse Ripple of maintaining an anti-Bitcoin position and being overly supportive of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs).

Upon learning of Cole’s relation to Senator Lummis, Garlinghouse described the information as “enlightening,” speculating whether the decision to cancel the meeting stemmed directly from the Senator or a member of her staff.

Corroborating Cole’s critical history, crypto legal analyst Bill Morgan disseminated screenshots from 2021 and 2022 showing Cole’s posts disparaging Ripple and XRP, often focusing on allegations of a centralized operational model.

The Enduring Bitcoin vs. XRP Debate

The ideological schism between proponents of Bitcoin and XRP is a persistent feature within the cryptocurrency sector.

Bitcoin, as the leading digital currency by market capitalization, frequently faces scrutiny for its energy consumption and environmental impact.

Garlinghouse has recently made overtures aimed at fostering greater unity among disparate cryptocurrency communities.

In a symbolic gesture, he facilitated the donation of the “Skull of Satoshi” installation to the broader crypto community, remarking that adherents of Bitcoin, XRP, and other digital assets have “more in common than we think.”

Political Dimensions and Regulatory Entanglements

The Bitcoin versus XRP discourse is also interwoven with political dynamics.

Ripple has engaged in significant political contributions aligned with Donald Trump, including a personal donation of $300,000 in XRP from Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, to Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, and a $5 million XRP contribution from Ripple Labs to his inaugural committee.

Furthermore, in the wake of Trump’s election victory, reports surfaced suggesting that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—which has been embroiled in a multi-year legal battle with Ripple over alleged securities violations—had explored settlement possibilities with the company.

Also Read: Ripple’s XRP Whales Bet on $5 XRP in May as Bulls Eye New Monthly Peak

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