Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, has publicly criticized U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis for canceling their meeting and not agreeing to a new date. The incident took place while Garlinghouse was in Washington, D.C., for business meetings.
In X, Garlinghouse wrote that he was disappointed with Lummis, asking her to support all types of cryptocurrencies, not only Bitcoin. He also suggested that they talk about it on X Spaces or at a public event. Lummis is well-known for her backing of Bitcoin and is the chair of the Senate Digital Assets Subcommittee from Wyoming.
The decision to cancel the meeting caused a rift among members of the crypto community. Some people accused Lummis of supporting Bitcoin, while others praised her for it. Someone on X said they felt the field was not even, and Bitcoin maximalist Troy Cross thanked Lummis for stopping the scammers.
Although she faces criticism, Lummis continues to back Bitcoin and advises Americans to add it to their retirement savings. She is still working on legislation related to taxes for cryptocurrencies and the regulation of stablecoins.
The debate arises after XRP futures are introduced by CME, which increases the attention from institutions. Ripple is waiting for clarity from regulators about a spot XRP ETF, which is expected by the end of 2025. Garlinghouse believes that every blockchain network, including those apart from Bitcoin, should be regulated the same.
With tension rising between Bitcoin maxis and other crypto supporters, the industry hopes leaders will represent all types of digital assets.
