Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Once Compared XRP Speed to Bitcoin

Back in 2017, during the middle of a massive market rally, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse made a big claim about the efficiency of his digital asset. He argued that XRP operated one thousand times faster than Bitcoin. At the time, he was trying to explain why financial institutions might prefer Ripple technology over the slow, traditional networks used by banks.

The core of the message was that XRP serves as a bridge asset for cross border payments. While legacy systems like SWIFT often take days to clear international transactions, Garlinghouse positioned XRP as a instant solution to reduce friction and costs for global banks.

Today, this historical comment serves as a reminder of how the narrative around crypto utility has changed. While Bitcoin has solidified its position as a digital store of value, the debate over which assets are best for everyday payments remains a major topic for traders and developers alike.