Ripple CEO: XRP and Ripple Shares Are Very Different Things

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has recently addressed confusion surrounding the difference between XRP and Ripple shares.

Garlinghouse explained that confusion had arisen among retail investors due to Linqto’s sale of Ripple shares. Some investors mistakenly believed they were purchasing equity directly from Ripple itself.

He reiterated that Ripple shares represent ownership in the company, whereas XRP is a digital asset independent of the company’s private equity.

Ripple’s Position Regarding Linqto’s Activities

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Garlinghouse further clarified that Linqto, the platform involved in these share transactions, is an entirely independent company with no official affiliation to Ripple.

Linqto acquired approximately 4.7 million Ripple shares. However, these shares were not directly purchased from Ripple. Instead, Linqto obtained them through secondary market transactions from early Ripple shareholders.

He confirmed that Ripple’s role has been limited to verifying that Linqto does indeed hold those shares. However, he emphasized that this confirmation does not mean Ripple endorsed, authorized, or partnered with Linqto in any capacity. Ripple has never permitted Linqto to sell its shares, nor has it collaborated with the platform in any private funding rounds.

Ripple Has No Control Over Linqto’s Operations

Garlinghouse was clear that Ripple has never had any formal business relationship with Linqto. He explained that Ripple does not know how Linqto managed the sales process for what it described as “representative units” of Ripple shares. As a result, Ripple cannot provide any reassurances regarding Linqto’s business practices, how it handled investor funds, or how it plans to resolve the current issues facing its customers.

Due to the growing perception that Linqto’s offerings were somehow sanctioned by Ripple, the company decided in late 2024 to halt any further secondary share transactions involving Linqto. This decision was made to protect Ripple’s brand and eliminate investor confusion regarding the company’s non-involvement with Linqto’s offerings.

Acknowledging the Increase in Share Value

Despite the controversy, Garlinghouse noted that the value of Ripple’s shares has appreciated significantly over time. He acknowledged that those holding shares through Linqto may have seen substantial gains as a result of this increase in valuation. However, he reiterated that Ripple has no involvement in how Linqto manages these holdings or how it plans to address investor concerns moving forward.

Garlinghouse’s statement reinforces Ripple’s position that there is a clear and necessary distinction between XRP and Ripple shares. It also underlines that Ripple’s confirmation of Linqto’s share ownership does not imply any endorsement or participation in Linqto’s activities. Ripple remains entirely separate from how Linqto conducts its business and how it handles its commitments to its customers.

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