Ripple CEO: ‘I support the CLARITY Act… clarity is better than chaos’

Ripple (XRP) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brad Garlinghouse said he supports the passage of the U.S. crypto-asset market structure bill, the CLARITY Act, arguing that “even if it isn’t perfect, it’s better than today’s uncertainty.”

According to crypto-focused outlet The Crypto Basic on the 16th (local time), Garlinghouse said in a recent interview that “clarity is better than chaos,” stressing that “the industry needs clear rules.” He added that “if everyone in the crypto industry can understand the rules, the market can function even if the initial rules aren’t perfect.”

He went on to say that “rather than getting frustrated and turning away, the industry should stay engaged in the conversation, propose improvements, and work with lawmakers.” The point, he said, is that even an imperfect bill matters if it serves as a starting point for mainstream policy discussions.

Still, opposition to the CLARITY Act remains dominant across the U.S. crypto industry.

Coinbase, in particular, has taken issue with points including △an effective ban on tokenized stocks △blocking DeFi and allowing broad access to financial information △weakening the authority of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and creating a structure subordinate to the SEC △and the possibility of limiting stablecoin reward features, and has previously withdrawn its support for the bill.

With the industry divided, Garlinghouse’s remarks are being read as a pragmatic approach that prioritizes “regulatory clarity over perfection,” and could emerge as another variable in the debate over market structure legislation going forward.