Share
A single word from Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has reignited one of the XRP (XRP) community’s favorite themes: the possibility that long-term holders could one day be rewarded for their loyalty.
During a recent podcast appearance, Garlinghouse was asked whether XRP holders might receive some kind of benefit if Ripple eventually goes public.
His response was far from definitive. “Maybe,” he said, quickly adding that any such scenario was not in the immediate term.
Yet within hours, the comment had spread across social media, with many users treating the cautious remark as evidence that Ripple was actively considering a reward program tied to a future initial public offering (IPO).
The excitement stems from a long-standing tension within the XRP ecosystem. Ripple and XRP are closely associated in the minds of many investors, yet they remain legally and financially separate entities.
Ripple is a private technology company developing payment and liquidity solutions, while XRP is the native asset of the decentralized XRP Ledger (XRPL). Holding XRP does not grant ownership in Ripple, nor does it provide shareholders’ rights, dividends, or exposure to the company’s profits.
RIPPLE'S CEO SAID $XRP HOLDERS MIGHT GET "SOMETHING SPECIAL" IF THE COMPANY GOES PUBLIC
The XRP community heard a promise. Here's what he actually said.
Asked on a podcast in May, Brad Garlinghouse said: "Maybe. But I mean, that's not in the immediate term."
That's it. A… pic.twitter.com/3D0EYmFurc
— WOLF Crypto (@WOLF_Crypto_X) June 22, 2026
That distinction has led many holders to wonder whether Ripple’s eventual public listing could create a bridge between the company’s equity value and the token’s community.
Garlinghouse’s “maybe” appeared to offer a glimpse of that possibility, even though he provided no details and explicitly declined to endorse any specific mechanism.
The result was predictable: A cautious comment quickly evolved into a bullish narrative centered on potential rewards, allocations, or special treatment for XRP holders.
Lost amid the excitement is the fact that Ripple is not actively pursuing a public listing.
Garlinghouse has repeatedly stated that an IPO is not a near-term priority, citing challenging market conditions for crypto-related public companies.
If @Ripple is already worth approximately $300/share,
before U.S. clarity,
before IPO liquidity,
before institutional adoption at scale, and
before 25B+ annual revenue,then a $1T Ripple valuation implies something closer to $6,000 per share, assuming the same effective… https://t.co/b2JrePWNIP pic.twitter.com/vsux9tDk5u
— Rob Cunningham (@KuwlShow) June 12, 2026
Several digital asset companies that have gone public in recent years have struggled to maintain strong post-listing performance, reducing the urgency for Ripple to enter public markets.
This means investors are effectively speculating on two separate uncertainties: first, whether Ripple eventually pursues an IPO, and second, whether that IPO would include any form of holder benefit.
The double layer of speculation has not stopped traders from embracing the narrative, but it significantly reduces the likelihood of any near-term catalyst emerging from the discussion.
XRP remains technically weak and continues to trade within a declining medium- to long-term trend channel. This suggests growing bearish sentiment among investors and points to the possibility of further downside pressure.
The token has already reached its projected target of $1.09 following a breakdown from a rectangle consolidation pattern. Although prices have since rebounded, the broader chart structure continues to signal a risk of additional declines.
Currently, XRP lacks strong support levels below its present range, leaving the asset vulnerable to further selling if market sentiment deteriorates.
On the upside, any sustained recovery is likely to face significant resistance near $1.33, a level that could cap bullish momentum unless accompanied by stronger buying volume and a broader market breakout.
Share
preferred on
