- Ripple executives remain silent as leadership tension rumors continue circulating.
- Internal divisions reported over tokenization strategy and custodial service expansion.
- Speculation grows about investor influence shaping Ripple’s current direction.
Ripple is at the center of growing speculation after reports surfaced of an internal power struggle between CEO Brad Garlinghouse and co-founder Chris Larsen. According to updates shared by crypto analyst Stern Drew, unnamed sources claim that a leadership divide may be forming over key strategic decisions.
It should be noted, though, that neither Garlinghouse nor Larsen has commented on the speculation.
According to Drew, Larsen, who influenced Ripple’s early strategy in digital asset adoption, has not been in line with some of the company’s decisions. The sources noted that he might not be comfortable with what they term a change of corporate focus, especially concerning Ripple’s interest in asset custody.
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Ripple has also filed a trademark application, Ripple Custody, which attracted some attention in the crypto community. Some observers believe this development may be one of the sources of internal disagreement.
Although the company is trying to plunge deeper into tokenized asset services, Larsen is reported to have a more conservative approach, and the leadership team has kept quiet about the matter despite such reports.
🚨 CHRIS LARSEN VS. BRAD GARLINGHOUSE?
Something is brewing inside Ripple.
Rumors suggest a growing friction between Ripple’s CEO and co-founder Chris Larsen.
If true, this could be a sign of massive internal power struggles as Ripple gears up for its next phase.
Let’s break… pic.twitter.com/LEjhJGCz4u
— Stern Drew (@SternDrewCrypto) July 27, 2025
Questions Arise Around Control and Strategic Vision
Further speculation surrounds Ripple’s control over key components of its ecosystem, including XRP escrow accounts and core infrastructure. As the company expands its institutional partnerships, disagreements are said to be emerging on how Ripple balances decentralization with corporate growth.
Observers have also expressed concerns about the involvement of institutional investors. It has been said that they might be influencing leadership decisions in the company, which might be contributing to any rift between the vision of Ripple’s founders and the current top brass.
Also, the long-standing trial between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is assumed to have had an overall influence on the inner processes.
No Public Response From Ripple’s Executives
As the conversation gains momentum within the XRP community, Ripple, Garlinghouse, and Larsen have not issued official statements. The public has relied solely on unverified claims and third-party speculation.
Despite the attention the topic is receiving online, the company has neither confirmed nor denied any leadership issues.
The reported power struggle between Brad Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen remains unverified and has not been addressed publicly by those involved. Until official statements are made, the circulating rumors should be treated as unconfirmed developments within Ripple’s leadership structure.
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