Ripple CEO snubbed by Lummis: XRP FUD Fuels crypto drama

by

On the fateful day of May 19, 2025, Ripple‘s illustrious CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, took to X to announce the abrupt cancellation of his high-stakes rendezvous with Senator Cynthia Lummis, the chair of the Digital Assets Subcommittee. The news sent tremors through the Crypto X community, as if a mighty earthquake had struck the very foundations of the crypto world. Speculation ran rampant, with many pointing fingers at Lummis’ son-in-law, Will Cole—a Bitcoin maximalist notorious for his anti-Ripple tirades. Could it be that a family feud was behind this snub? Oh, the drama! 🎭

The timing of this cancellation was nothing short of theatrical, coinciding with whispers of clandestine negotiations between Circle and Ripple, with Ripple attempting to woo Circle into their fold. Meanwhile, Coinbase, a company that seems to have Lummis’ favor, lurked in the shadows, eager to make its own bid. Ah, the tangled web of crypto politics! 🕸️

Ripple has the money to bid for Circle solely due to dumping XRP.

They are trying to buy Circle because stablecoins make the use case XRP was supposed to fulfill utterly useless. They know this, they’ve known it for years while they dumped billions of dollars worth of XRP on…

— Rex (@R89Capital) May 20, 2025

Critics of Ripple were quick to allege that the true motive behind the acquisition of Circle was to exchange XRP for fiat currency. Ripple, the American company behind one of the top five cryptocurrencies, has always danced to a different tune than the anti-banking ethos of the crypto community. XRP was envisioned as a bridge to the traditional banking system, yet many question whether Ripple can truly be called decentralized. Founded by the dynamic duo of Jed McCaleb and Chris Larsen, Garlinghouse took the helm in 2016, steering the ship through turbulent waters.

Possible reasons for meeting cancellation

Lummis, a titan among pro-crypto lawmakers of the 2020s, seemed a natural ally for Garlinghouse in discussions about stablecoin legislation. Yet, it appears the CEO is being ghosted by the very regulatory circle he sought to engage with. Observers speculate that a rift may be forming, a crack in the facade of their alliance.

Garlinghouse himself took to X to voice his dismay.

Heading to DC to champion sensible pro-crypto legislation around stablecoins and market structure, and I’m very encouraged to see our elected officials look at crypto as it should be – a multichain industry.

That said, @SenLummis, as Chair of the Digital Assets Subcommittee,…

— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) May 19, 2025

As the Senate transformed into a battleground over the Genius Act—a bill aimed at establishing a framework for U.S. stablecoin issuers—the cancellation of Garlinghouse’s meeting seemed almost scripted. The bill had been blocked by Senate Democrats earlier that month, and Lummis and her colleagues were scrambling to amend it in hopes of winning votes. Timing, it seems, is everything in politics.

Ripple advocates, however, pointed to a more sinister motive behind the cancellation, suggesting that Lummis was swayed by her son-in-law, Will Cole, whose vocal Bitcoin maximalism raised eyebrows and prompted cries of conflict of interest.

You did this to yourself.

A lifetime of bashing bitcoin and shilling your pre-mined central bank token has locked you into a zero-credibility prison of your own making.

No amount of lobbying will change this, Brad.

— Joe Consorti ⚡️ (@JoeConsorti) May 19, 2025

Will Cole’s alleged influence & political tensions

This is what @SenLummis son-in-law thinks about XRP. If she has the same views you can understand why she may not want to meet with @bgarlinghouse
Imagine the effect on her inner circle and the criticism.

— bill morgan (@Belisarius2020) May 20, 2025

In a twist of irony, Pierre Rochard, a staunch Bitcoin advocate, mocked Garlinghouse’s public lament over the meeting’s cancellation. Cole’s reposting of critical commentary about Garlinghouse only added fuel to the fire, revealing a connection that Ripple supporters were quick to exploit.

Hey @bgarlinghouse, look into Will Cole who is Senator Lummis’ son-in-law. He’s seen below reposting Pierre’s dig on you. He is Head of Product for a $BTC payments company and hates seeing @Ripple do well. Now we know why Lummis won’t meet with you. Her financial contributors…

— Cowboy.Crypto (@cowboycrypto313) May 19, 2025

Rochard’s critique encapsulates the skepticism surrounding Ripple. He argues that the company is perpetually selling its XRP to generate revenue, painting Ripple as a centralized entity that conjures XRP from thin air to exchange for fiat. The Bitcoin purists echo similar sentiments about Ethereum, creating a chorus of distrust.

I will continue to speak out against Ripple XRP, it’s not a real blockchain and it’s not decentralized. Brad Garlinghouse has created a Potemkin village to trick retail investors into giving him money.

— Pierre Rochard (@BitcoinPierre) May 20, 2025

Rochard, much like a certain former president, has a sharp anti-CBDC stance, criticizing Garlinghouse for advocating for central bank digital currencies. While Europe embraces this trend, the GOP remains staunchly opposed to a digital dollar, favoring stablecoins that preserve operational privacy.

Adding to the intrigue, Chris Larsen, Ripple’s co-founder, made headlines for donating $10 million worth of XRP to Kamala Harris during her campaign, making him her largest individual sponsor. Larsen claimed this was to ensure American technology’s global dominance, while Garlinghouse distanced himself from this support, calling for a shift in the Biden administration’s crypto approach.

This donation only fueled accusations of Ripple dumping its coins en masse.

LOL donating in XRP means they are dumping another 10 million on their holders’ heads..

Good luck

— Hexologist 🇺🇸 (@Hexologist31) October 21, 2024

While the reasons behind Cole’s opposition to Ripple are clear, the rationale for Lummis’ cancellation remains shrouded in mystery. As criticism mounts, Ripple finds itself in a legal quagmire, with a judge denying the SEC settlement on May 15, leaving Ripple to navigate the stormy seas of 2025, a year that seems to be more challenging than for many other U.S. crypto giants.

Read More

2025-05-22 15:17