Introduction to Ripple’s Vision
In January 2020, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse introduced the company’s "Internet of Value" vision at the World Economic Forum in Davos. This was a significant event, as it marked Ripple’s transition from a startup to a major player in the global financial infrastructure. Garlinghouse predicted a wave of crypto IPOs, highlighting the rapid pace of institutional adoption.
A Blueprint for CBDCs and Interoperability
The World Economic Forum unveiled its inaugural CBDC Policymaker Toolkit at Davos, outlining potential designs for sovereign digital currencies and highlighting concerns about interoperability. Garlinghouse emphasized that central banks would eventually issue CBDCs, but they would not naturally work together across borders. He argued that Ripple’s role was to provide a solution to this issue. Since then, Ripple has developed its CBDC Platform, built on the XRP Ledger, to enable the issuance, management, and cross-network transfers of digital currencies and tokenized assets.
Building Through Litigation
In December 2020, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple, but this did not halt the company’s international expansion. Instead, Ripple deepened its relationships with central banks and governments. Several countries, including Bhutan, Palau, Colombia, and Georgia, have partnered with Ripple to develop digital currencies and payment solutions. These partnerships demonstrate Ripple’s commitment to solving the interoperability issue.
2025: From Vision to Reality
Today, CBDCs are no longer theoretical, and dozens of countries are running pilots or have already launched live projects. Ripple has introduced RLUSD, a dollar-backed stablecoin launched on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum. This move has strengthened Ripple’s position as a liquidity provider and a bridge between CBDCs, stablecoins, and fiat currencies.
The Legal Backdrop
The SEC lawsuit has reshaped, but not derailed, Ripple’s trajectory. Judge Analisa Torres’ 2023 ruling declared that XRP sales on secondary markets were not securities, although some institutional sales violated securities law. In June 2025, Judge Torres rejected a proposed settlement on procedural grounds. Shortly after, Ripple’s CEO confirmed that the company would drop its counter-appeal, and the SEC is expected to follow suit. This brings the long-running case close to resolution without altering Ripple’s long-term strategy.
Conclusion
Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, foreshadowed the company’s role in shaping the future of money at the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos. Five years later, CBDCs are taking shape, and Ripple has built the tools to bridge them. The "Internet of Value" Garlinghouse described is steadily emerging, with XRP positioned as the connective tissue in a new global financial system. As the financial landscape continues to evolve, Ripple’s vision and infrastructure are likely to play a significant role in shaping the future of money.
