Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Accurately Predicted RLUSD as Top 5 Stablecoin - And It’s Already Happening
Brad Garlinghouse called it. The Ripple CEO's bold prediction about RLUSD cracking the stablecoin elite is no longer just speculation—it's market reality.
The Prediction That Became a Blueprint
Garlinghouse didn't just hope for RLUSD's success; he mapped it. His forecast placed the digital asset squarely among the top five stablecoins by market cap—a space historically dominated by a handful of entrenched players. That kind of climb requires more than just technology; it demands a seismic shift in how institutions move value.
Breaking Into the Inner Circle
The stablecoin arena is a fortress. Tether and USD Coin have long held the gates, with their massive liquidity and first-mover advantage. For a newcomer like RLUSD to even approach that tier meant bypassing years of accumulated trust and network effects overnight. It meant offering something the old guard couldn't—or wouldn't.
Ripple's play wasn't to mimic, but to rewire. The focus shifted to the corridors of cross-border finance, where settlement times are measured in days and fees stack up like a bad joke. RLUSD targeted that friction directly, positioning itself not just as a digital dollar, but as a settlement rail.
Why This Move Changes Everything
Garlinghouse's accurate prediction signals more than just one stablecoin's rise. It exposes a growing appetite for alternatives that serve a specific, high-value purpose rather than just existing as a speculative parking spot. When a CEO's public forecast becomes a market fact within a visible timeframe, it cuts through the usual noise of empty hype.
It also throws a spotlight on the coming battle for utility. The next phase of stablecoin growth won't be won by who has the most tokens, but by whose tokens do the most work. The finance old guard loves to talk about efficiency—right before charging you thirty bucks and three business days to send money across a street.
The New Top Five Is Just the Start
Scaling into the top five was the validation. Now comes the hard part: staying there and defining what comes next. The prediction was accurate, but the real story is whether RLUSD can turn that position into a permanent reordering of how global money moves. One thing's certain—the stablecoin leaderboard just got a lot more interesting.
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.
