Garlinghouse Reveals Surprising Meeting from Sydney Stage
During the XRP Australia Sydney 2026 conference, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse made a sensational revelation: he claimed that former SEC Chair Gary Gensler had approached him at the conclusion of a White House meeting in February 2026 and apologized for his handling of Ripple and XRP.
According to Garlinghouse, Gensler reportedly said: «Sorry... I was wrong. And you guys have done an incredible job.» Garlinghouse described the situation as «a bit odd» given where it took place, according to conference transcripts.
«Sorry... I was wrong. And you guys have done an incredible job» — this is how Garlinghouse recounts Gensler's alleged words
Important Caveat: The Claim Is Unconfirmed
It is crucial to emphasize that this account originates solely from Garlinghouse himself and has not been independently verified. Neither Gensler personally nor the SEC as an institution has publicly commented on the claim. Furthermore, some reports suggest it is not entirely clear whom Garlinghouse was actually referring to, according to research material.
Gensler resigned from his SEC position in early 2025, after President Donald Trump won the election in November 2024. Trump had explicitly promised to replace Gensler and make the U.S. a crypto-friendly country.
From Lawsuit to Conclusion: Five Years of Legal Conflict
The backdrop to the alleged apology is a protracted legal battle. In December 2020, the SEC sued Ripple Labs under then-chair Jay Clayton, alleging that XRP was sold as an unregistered security.
In July 2023, a partial victory came for Ripple: a district court ruled that programmatic sales of XRP to retail investors did not constitute a securities offering, but that direct institutional sales violated securities law. Gensler stated at the time that he was «pleased with that part of the decision» concerning institutional sales, but «disappointed» with the conclusion related to retail investors, according to available statements.
In early 2025, the SEC withdrew its appeal, effectively ending the lawsuit.
White House Gathers Crypto and Banking Sectors
The meeting where the alleged apology took place was part of a broader political initiative. According to available information, the White House's Crypto Policy Council held meetings in February 2026 with leaders from both the crypto industry and the traditional banking sector, aiming to draft legislation for digital asset market structure.
CFTC Chair Michael Selig reportedly estimated that market structure legislation could reach the president's desk within a few months. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged stakeholders to reach a consensus, stating: «We must implement safe, sound, and smart practices and government oversight, but also allow for the freedom that is the essence of crypto.»
Gensler's Stance Has Not Changed Publicly
Despite the alleged private apology, Gensler has publicly maintained a critical view of crypto. As recently as December 2025, he characterized most digital assets as «highly speculative» and reiterated that only Bitcoin can be considered a commodity, while other cryptocurrencies lack «dividends or ordinary returns,» according to available statements after his departure.
This creates a striking gap between the narrative Garlinghouse paints and Gensler's own public statements – underscoring that the claim should be treated with due source criticism until it is potentially confirmed by independent sources.
