Ripple’s Web of Influence

Ripple’s Web of Influence: Government, Finance, and Regulation in 2025

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Ripple Labs has become a central player in the global digital asset ecosystem, not just for its technology, but for its deep and growing network of connections with governments, regulators, and financial giants. In 2025, Ripple’s strategy of building bridges between crypto and traditional finance is more visible than ever, as it pursues a U.S. national bank license, expands its stablecoin operations, and continues to shape policy worldwide.

1. Ripple’s Regulatory and Government Ties

Ripple’s board and advisory team are stacked with former high-level government officials and regulators, including:

Lauren Belive: Former White House official, now Head of U.S. Public Policy and Government (BeInCrypto).
Rosie Rios: Former U.S. Treasurer, joined Ripple’s Board in 2021.
Michael Barr: Former Ripple advisor, now Vice Chair for Supervision at the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Raghuram Rajan: Former Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, joined Ripple’s advisory board in 2024 (Crypto Times).
Yoshitaka Kitao: CEO of SBI Holdings, Ripple board member, and economic advisor to Japan’s Prime Minister.
Mark Carney: Former Governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, reportedly piloted Ripple’s tech at the BoE and became Canada’s Prime Minister in 2025.

In 2024, 15 of Ripple’s 23 lobbyists had prior government experience, highlighting a strong “revolving door” presence. Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, was appointed to the White House Crypto Council in 2025, signaling a new era of industry-government collaboration (CoinGabbar).

2. Ripple’s Push for Regulatory Leadership

In July 2025, Ripple made headlines by applying for a U.S. national bank license and a Federal Reserve master account. This move would make Ripple the first major stablecoin issuer with both state and federal regulatory coverage, setting a new benchmark for compliance and transparency in the stablecoin market (CoinLaw).

Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, launched in late 2024, is already regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services. National approval would allow Ripple to hold RLUSD reserves directly with the Federal Reserve, offering institutional-grade security and 24/7 issuance and redemption. This dual oversight is designed to win the trust of institutional investors and regulators alike.

Ripple’s global policy team is also active in shaping crypto regulation, submitting policy recommendations to bodies like IOSCO, the Basel Committee, and central banks worldwide (Ripple Public Policy).

3. Strategic Partnerships and Financial Institution Links

Ripple’s influence extends deep into the financial sector. Its board and executive team include:

Craig Phillips: Director at Ripple, previously at BlackRock.
Robert Mitchnick: Former Ripple Head of Strategy, now BlackRock’s Head of Digital Assets.
Maxime de Guillebon: Joined Ripple after leading digital asset product at BNY Mellon and as CEO of Zodia Custody.
Sandie O’Connor: Board member at Ripple and BNY Mellon, former Chief Regulatory Affairs Officer at JPMorgan Chase.
Donald Donahue: Former CEO of DTCC, now Ripple advisor.

Ripple has established partnerships with over 300 financial institutions, including MoneyGram, Santander, and SBI Holdings, using its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service to facilitate instant cross-border payments (Linqto).

4. Governance, Decentralization, and Community

Ripple’s governance model is a hybrid: while the XRP Ledger is open-source and increasingly decentralized (with over 150 validators as of 2023), Ripple Labs still holds significant influence, especially through its large XRP holdings and proposal power. The company has made efforts to decentralize, but critics argue that true community governance remains limited compared to projects like Ethereum (The Standard).

The XRP community is highly active on social media and forums, and the XRP Ledger Foundation works to promote transparency and decentralization. Developer activity is strong, with initiatives like XRPL Grants funding new projects and integrations.

5. Ripple’s Global Policy and Regulatory Engagement

Ripple is a regular contributor to policy consultations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond. The company has submitted recommendations to the U.S. Congress, UK Parliament, Bank of England, Reserve Bank of India, and many others, advocating for clear, innovation-friendly crypto regulation (Ripple Public Policy).

Ripple’s approach is to work within the system, seeking to bridge the gap between crypto and traditional finance. Its pursuit of a national bank license and direct Federal Reserve access is a bold step that could set a precedent for the entire industry.

6. Conclusion: Ripple’s Position in 2025

Ripple’s extensive network of government, regulatory, and financial connections positions it as a key player in the future of digital assets and payments. With its leadership now directly advising the White House, its board stacked with former regulators and financial executives, and its push for regulatory leadership, Ripple is uniquely placed to influence the next wave of crypto regulation and adoption.

As the U.S. and other major economies move toward clearer digital asset frameworks, Ripple’s “revolving door” strategy and global partnerships are likely to keep it at the forefront of the industry.

Ripple’s Web of Influence