Crypto analyst and investor Xaif recently addressed remarks from Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, aiming to clarify ongoing misunderstandings about who controls XRP and how decisions are made within its ecosystem. Xaif’s post focuses on providing clear explanations for readers who may still confuse Ripple, the company, with XRP, the open-source digital asset.
Brad Garlinghouse: XRP doesn’t have a CEO. Ripple doesn’t control XRP.
It’s open-source, decentralized, and the community decides. Amendments have passed even when Ripple opposed them — that’s 80% validator approval, not company control.
The XRP ecosystem is bigger than any one… https://t.co/lH4XwXj2ug pic.twitter.com/4aFqwNd4nn
— Xaif Crypto|🇺🇸 (@Xaif_Crypto) November 28, 2025
Garlinghouse Explains the Structure of the XRP Ecosystem
In a referenced video, Garlinghouse clearly stated that Ripple is a private company with a CEO, whereas XRP itself does not have a CEO. He explained that numerous independent teams and developers contribute to the XRP ecosystem, and none operate under a centralized authority for the asset. According to Garlinghouse, the assumption that XRP has a CEO indicates a misunderstanding of the network's functional structure.
Garlinghouse emphasized that XRP and the XRP Ledger are open-source and decentralized. Any changes to the technology require approval from validators, not Ripple. He pointed out that amendments have been passed even when Ripple opposed them, highlighting that control rests with the community, not the company. Changes to the XRP Ledger necessitate 80% validator approval, ensuring that decisions reflect broad consensus rather than the preference of a single entity.
Xaif Clarifies How XRP Escrow Actually Works
During the discussion, X user Rui Ferreira raised a question about the monthly release of XRP from escrow. Xaif provided a technical explanation to prevent misunderstandings, stating that Ripple does not control the escrow. Instead, the system operates automatically through cryptographic, time-locked code.
A fixed amount of XRP unlocks each month, and Ripple lacks the ability to expedite, delay, or manually intervene in this process. If any portion of the released supply remains unused, it is returned to escrow with a new unlock date. Xaif described this process as predictable and transparent, governed entirely by code rather than human decision-making.
Distinction Between Ripple and XRP
Another X user, Monica, added further context by noting that Ripple's primary role is to develop software solutions. This function is separate from the XRP Ledger, which is maintained by independent validators and shaped by community governance. Her remarks align with the central point made by both Garlinghouse and Xaif: XRP operates independently of Ripple, and decisions concerning the ledger are made collectively, not by a single organization.
Through these comments, Xaif highlighted key facts about XRP’s decentralization, governance, and automated supply mechanisms, aiming to provide readers with a clearer understanding of how the ecosystem functions.