Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Accurately Predicted RLUSD as Top 5 Stablecoin

TLDR

• RLUSD’s market cap surged from $170 million in early 2025 to $900 million by October.
• In just two months, RLUSD minted $400 million, boosting its supply by 45%.
• Ripple’s pursuit of compliance with federal regulations helped RLUSD stand out in the market.
• RLUSD achieved Top 5 status in the USD stablecoin market, surpassing initial skepticism.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has made headlines with his successful prediction that RLUSD, the company’s USD-pegged stablecoin, would secure a place as one of the top 5 stablecoins by the end of 2025. Despite initial skepticism about the new entrant, RLUSD has achieved rapid growth and surpassed expectations.

RLUSD’s Remarkable Growth Journey

RLUSD was launched in December 2024 with a modest market cap of around $170 million. At the time, many analysts doubted its potential to compete with industry giants like Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), which dominated the stablecoin market. Yet, Garlinghouse remained confident, boldly predicting that RLUSD would become one of the top 5 USD stablecoins by the end of 2025.

As the year progressed, RLUSD steadily grew in both supply and market value. By mid-2025, the stablecoin had reached a market cap of about $900 million. This growth accelerated significantly between October and December 2025, as the coin’s supply increased by 45%. Around $400 million in new RLUSD was minted during this period, a clear sign of growing adoption and trust in the stablecoin.

Strategic Partnerships and Market Expansion

The success of RLUSD can largely be attributed to Ripple’s strategic approach and partnerships with major players in the cryptocurrency and financial sectors. Throughout 2025, platforms like Uphold, Bitstamp, and Keyrock integrated RLUSD, providing it with broader exposure and liquidity.

Ripple also focused on building a strong foundation of regulatory compliance. The company secured conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter. This approval gives Ripple greater credibility in the eyes of enterprise clients and regulators. Additionally, Ripple’s existing license from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) further bolstered confidence in RLUSD’s stability.

Focus on Compliance and Transparency

Ripple’s commitment to transparency and compliance set RLUSD apart from other stablecoins. Ripple made it a priority to align RLUSD with the highest standards of financial regulation. The company engaged Deloitte to provide third-party attestations, ensuring transparency and trust in the coin’s reserves.

One of the key decisions in this regard was Ripple’s selection of the Bank of New York (BNY) as the custodian for RLUSD’s reserves. This move helped establish RLUSD as a stable, secure option for institutional investors, contributing to its rapid rise in the rankings.

Ripple’s Impact on the Stablecoin Landscape

Garlinghouse’s prediction has now come to fruition, and RLUSD’s placement as a top 5 USD stablecoin is a remarkable achievement. The stablecoin has proven that it is possible to enter a market dominated by giants and make a significant impact with the right combination of innovation, compliance, and partnerships.

The success of RLUSD is likely to serve as a model for other projects in the cryptocurrency space. Ripple’s ability to execute on its bold vision has demonstrated the potential for smaller players to disrupt established markets, even in the highly competitive world of stablecoins.

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