Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has been appointed to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's Innovation Advisory Committee, coinciding with an over 8% rise in XRP's price to around $1.53. The committee, now expanded to 35 members, aims to advise on digital asset frameworks. This development signals growing collaboration between crypto industry leaders and regulators.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has expanded its Innovation Advisory Committee to 35 members, including Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. Chairman Michael S. Selig stated that the goal is to "future proof U.S. markets by working closer with the industry instead of fighting it." Other appointees include Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, as well as leaders from Chainlink, Solana Labs, Uniswap, CME Group, and Nasdaq.
The committee will focus on areas such as tokenization, perpetual contracts, and blockchain market structure. Notably, the CFTC regulates derivatives markets rather than spot crypto securities, distinguishing it from Ripple's previous legal battles with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
News of Garlinghouse's appointment prompted a rapid market response. XRP rallied 8.09% in 24 hours, trading near $1.53 after breaking out of a mid-$1.40 consolidation range. The token reached around $1.57609, up 10% from a low of $1.40731, with increased trading volume and widening Bollinger Bands supporting the move. Bulls are now testing resistance at $1.60, bolstered by short-term moving averages around $1.47 and $1.48.
Garlinghouse has described XRP as the "North Star" of Ripple's strategy, highlighting 2026 as a pivotal year. Additional momentum comes from Binance's recent completion of RLUSD integration on the XRP Ledger. Institutional interest is evident, with Goldman Sachs disclosing a $152 million position in crypto ETFs.
While U.S. regulatory tones appear to be softening, global policies vary; for instance, Dutch lawmakers are advancing a 36% capital gains tax on crypto. XRP's performance remains tied to broader market sentiment, including Bitcoin trends and macroeconomic factors like interest rate expectations.
