For a long time, people supporting XRP and Bitcoin have discussed their disagreements in the crypto space. During a XRP Las Vegas 2025 meeting, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse chose a new strategy. He said that the industry needs to come together, since competition slows down development. People are drawn to blockchain because of new partnerships, suggesting a change in the crypto scene.

Bitcoin Is Not the Enemy, Says Brad Garlinghouse at XRP Las Vegas

Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse has urged the crypto community to drop inter-asset rivalries. Speaking at XRP Las Vegas 2025, he stated that Bitcoin is not the enemy of XRP. Instead, he called for stronger collaboration across the blockchain ecosystem.

Garlinghouse addressed attendees during a panel discussion, sharing lessons from over 24 years in Silicon Valley. He said, “The Bitcoin community is not the enemy. They are not.” He added that the crypto sector should focus on collective growth rather than competition.

The Ripple CEO said that both XRP and Bitcoin could succeed together. His remarks come amid frequent tensions between the two camps, often centered around transaction fees, scalability, and decentralization claims.

XRP and Bitcoin Communities: A History of Disputes

Communities of the two projects have, for a long time, been critical of each other’s technology. Some people who back Bitcoin think XRP isn’t completely decentralized. Many XRP users consider Bitcoin’s fees to be too high and its network to be slow.

Even after disagreements, what Garlinghouse says suggests Ripple may be approaching things differently. Prior to the conference, Ripple’s CTO cancelled out criticism of decentralization. He mentioned that XRP does not have an issuer and runs on a ledger anyone can use.

Ripple CEO Promotes Unity and Industry Growth

At the event, Garlinghouse encouraged attendees to focus on the bigger picture. He stressed that the main goal was to challenge the traditional financial system. He said that internal disputes distract from tackling centralized banking inefficiencies.

Ripple’s CEO also highlighted Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road. The deal could enable integration between traditional finance and decentralized finance (DeFi). Garlinghouse said it was one of many steps to bring institutional adoption to crypto.

XRP Las Vegas Drives Crypto Collaboration

XRP Las Vegas 2025 featured several calls for industry collaboration. Tron founder Justin Sun hinted at a possible partnership with Ripple. A photo of Sun and Garlinghouse circulated widely, raising speculation.

Let’s cook? @bgarlinghouse 😉 pic.twitter.com/oStsiEJljP

— H.E. Justin Sun 🍌 (@justinsuntron) May 31, 2025

Earlier, Garlinghouse made a symbolic gesture by donating the “Skull of Satoshi” to the Bitcoin community. The donation was described as a peace offering and received positive feedback from both communities.

Despite optimism, XRP’s market faced pressure during the conference. Technical data showed a possible head and shoulders pattern, and prices neared the $2 mark.

Legal Wins and Regulatory Clarity

Garlinghouse also reflected on Ripple’s regulatory victories in the U.S. courts. Brad acknowledged how the XRP community continued despite the SEC case. Because of the resolution, investment trust has grown and institutions are now showing interest.

Leaders at Ripple state they are dedicated to obeying all relevant regulations. This means legal steps include adherence to frameworks such as the European Union’s MiCA. The company will keep working with regulators to get clearer policies moving forward.

It emphasized that crypto’s development requires everyone to unite. As things move in the crypto market, Ripple is working on creating connections, not obstacles.