Dispute Between Ripple CEO and Senator Lummis Escalates
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Ripple CEO Engages in Public Disagreement
The tension between Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) came to a head on Monday, May 19, when the senator’s team canceled a scheduled meeting with Garlinghouse and refused to reschedule. Garlinghouse, who was already in Washington, D.C., to advocate for the GENIUS Act concerning stablecoins and market-structure reforms, decided to make the disagreement public by posting about it on social media platform X. “Heading to DC to champion sensible pro-crypto legislation… Unfortunately, @SenLummis, as Chair of the Digital Assets Subcommittee, cancelled our meeting and won’t reschedule,” he expressed, inviting the senator to a debate “anytime” either on X Space or at upcoming industry conferences.
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Garlinghouse urged Lummis, a prominent leader in Congress and a senator from one of the most crypto-friendly states, to reconsider her position and to lead the charge for all cryptocurrencies, not just Bitcoin. He invited her to join a conversation on X Space or face-to-face at industry events to discuss strategies for establishing the United States as the global hub for cryptocurrency, aligning with the ambitions of the previous administration. “I will continue to do everything possible to support that goal,” Garlinghouse declared.
Senator Lummis has not publicly addressed the meeting cancellation. However, her office stated she is currently focused on legislative actions related to the stablecoin bill, which recently passed a 65-32 procedural vote in the Senate, moving toward a detailed amendment phase. As a Wyoming Republican, Lummis has long been a favorite among Bitcoin proponents and was appointed in January to lead the Banking Committee’s new Subcommittee on Digital Assets. This role allows her significant influence over the shaping of federal cryptocurrency laws. During her appointment, she emphasized that “digital assets are the future” and urged the establishment of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
Mixed Reactions: Bitcoin Enthusiasts vs. Ripple Supporters
The senator’s decision garnered praise from the Bitcoin community, with many lauding her stance. Troy Cross of the Bitcoin Policy Institute expressed gratitude: “Just when you thought Lummis couldn’t be a better Bitcoiner. Kudos to Sen Lummis for keeping the scammers at bay.” Pierre Rochard, vice-president of research at Riot Platforms, criticized Garlinghouse on X, arguing he had damaged his credibility by advocating for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) while opposing Bitcoin. Market commentator Joe Consorti echoed similar sentiments, stating Garlinghouse’s “lifetime of bashing Bitcoin” left him with “zero credibility.”
In contrast, supporters of XRP, the cryptocurrency associated with Ripple, were quick to defend Garlinghouse. Influential content creator Crypto Eri told her audience that the senator’s “Bitcoin-maxi moves hurt the entire ecosystem.” Australian attorney Bill Morgan reposted Garlinghouse’s comments, warning that Lummis is “a champion of Bitcoin exceptionalism, not a level playing field.” Fellow lawyer Fred Rispoli dismissed the meeting cancellation as minor staff-level maneuvering, writing, “A staffer cancelled it for her… a lobbyist told the staffer to cancel it.”
As of the latest market updates, XRP is trading at $2.39.
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