Ripple CEO: XRP remains the core strategic direction, and mergers and acquisitions may restart in the second half of 2026

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated during an online event for the XRP community that XRP remains Ripple's "North Star." The company will focus primarily on business integration this year, and large acquisitions are unlikely in the short term, though it does not rule out reassessing merger and acquisition opportunities in the second half of 2026.

Garlinghouse pointed out that Ripple invested approximately $4 billion into the crypto ecosystem last year through investments, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, including the $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road and the $1 billion acquisition of the fund management platform GTreasury. Compared to the aggressive expansion in 2025, the company will focus more on integrating existing businesses and resources this year. He also mentioned that future mergers and acquisitions will still revolve around strengthening the XRP ecosystem and practical applications, but the overall pace will be more cautious.