Emily Walker
On January 7, 2025, Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty were seen enjoying dinner with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. This news was shared by both executives on X, accompanied by a photo with Trump that gained substantial attention online.
Topics of Discussion at the Dinner
Garlinghouse remarked, “Had a wonderful dinner with Donald Trump & Stuart Alderoty. Great way to kick off 2025!” Alderoty added a personal touch with his comment about the impressive beef bourguignon. However, they did not disclose the specific issues discussed, leaving the cryptocurrency community pondering if they covered regulatory topics or the ongoing legal case with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
As Trump prepares for his inauguration later this month, he appointed Paul Atkins to lead the SEC in December. Analysts are now curious if Atkins, in collaboration with Trump’s administration, will change the SEC’s approach to the Ripple case. The deadline for the SEC’s appeal is set for January 15, just days before the inauguration. Some in the XRP community speculate that new leadership might lead to the dropping of appeals, but nothing has been officially stated.
Despite the ambiguity surrounding their conversation, many in the crypto space view the meeting positively. Charles Hoskinson, Cardano’s founder, praised Garlinghouse, saying, “Nice job, Brad.” Similar sentiments were expressed by other prominent figures.
Moon Lambo (@MoonLamboio) tweeted, “If you thought Trump wasn’t committed to enhancing crypto, you can stop worrying!!! $XRP.” Pro-XRP lawyer Bill Morgan responded with enthusiasm, and Joey Swoll (@TheJoeySwoll) added: “Make crypto great again! LOCK IN! #XRPARMY.”
Nonetheless, not all feedback was completely positive. A user named ĐΛRKHØRSΞ (@DarkhorseDNME4) expressed concern about the dinner’s expense, questioning the reported costs of dining with Trump, which can be as high as $100,000 per seat.
Yet, the general sentiment among XRP supporters remains optimistic. Many believe that the dinner could indicate a shift towards more favorable policies under the anticipated Trump administration.
Garlinghouse had earlier tweeted on January 5—just before the Mar-a-Lago meeting—highlighting the “Trump bull market.” He mentioned how 2025 marked an optimistic turn for Ripple, especially after the SEC’s actions that stifled their business activities for years. He expressed gratitude for this change, noting substantial recent hires in the US for Ripple.
He also reported that “75% of Ripple’s open positions are now based in the US,” a significant shift from the previous four years, where most hires were international. Moreover, he noted that Ripple had finalized more US deals in the last six weeks of 2024 than in the prior six months combined.
He attributes these positive changes to the “Trump effect,” suggesting that both Trump and his associates are already fostering innovation and job creation even before taking office.
As of now, XRP is valued at $2.28.
