XRP Price Rises Amid Ripple CEO Influences Crypto Regulation

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Ahmed Balaha

Author

Ahmed Balaha

Since part of the group

August 2025

About the author

Ahmed Balaha is a journalist and copywriter based in Georgia with a growing focus on blockchain technology, DeFi, AI, privacy, digital assets and fintech innovation.

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Last Updated:

February 15, 2026

The price of XRP is now holding a heavy bid. The token jumped more than 8% in 24 hours after news broke that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse had secured a seat on the CFTC's Innovation Advisory Committee.

Traders are clearly betting that bringing Ripple closer to regulators could change the narrative around XRP.

Garlinghouse will join the expanded CFTC committee

This is a big change from Washington. The CFTC has expanded its Innovation Advisory Committee to 35 members, and Brad Garlinghouse is now part of it. Chairman Michael S. Selig said the goal is to work closely with the industry to secure future US markets.

It is important to keep this in perspective. The CFTC primarily regulates the derivatives markets, not crypto securities. XRP's past legal battle was with the SEC, not the CFTC.

And Garlinghouse is not alone. The lineup includes Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, leaders of Chainlink, Solana Labs and Uniswap, as well as traditional finance names like CME Group and Nasdaq. That's a mix of mystery and Wall Street in one room.

Focus areas are also important. Token permanent contracts. Blockchain market structure. All are directly tied to how XRP fits into the bigger picture.

For XRP holders this feels symbolic. Ripple is sitting on the policy table from the fight regulators. And with lawmakers pushing for clearer crypto regulations, this could mark a new chapter in how the industry and Washington interact.

XRP Price Bulls Eye $1.54 Breakout

The market reacted quickly. XRP is trading around $1.57609, up 10% on the day after rising from a low of $1.40731. That move pushed the price cleanly out of the $1.40 consolidation range, supported by strong volume and widening Bollinger Bands.

Bulls are now testing the $1.60 session high. The short-term moving averages converged below the price at $1.47 and $1.48, forming a step-level support zone. This gives some structure to the parade.

On the fundamental side, progress is also growing. Binance recently completed the integration of RLUSD on the XRP Ledger, a development that many analysts see as a huge boost to a much bigger move if the momentum continues.

Institutional demand is expanding

Beyond the CFTC news, more money is quietly moving into the space for a more crypto-friendly 2026.

Recent filings show that Goldman Sachs holds around $152 million in crypto ETFs, a clear sign that Wall Street is not pulling out of digital assets.

Garlinghouse also doubled down on its vision, calling XRP the “north star” of Ripple's strategy and pointing to 2026 as a pivotal year.

While the US tone seems to be softening, the global picture is still mixed. Dutch lawmakers, for example, are pushing a 36% capital gains tax on crypto, showing how fragmented regulation remains around the world.

Broader market conditions are also important. XRP is highly correlated with Bitcoin and general crypto risk sentiment, which means that macro indicators, including rate expectations and ETF flows, could reinforce this breakout attempt.

With the price now pressing against the $1.60 resistance zone, the next move could set the tone for where the momentum will go from here.