Ripple CTO Credits Chris Larsen for Early Commitment and Vision

David Schwartz, Ripple’s chief technology officer, recently engaged with users on the X social media platform, answering a variety of questions about the company’s history and future. 

One of the inquiries asked Schwartz to identify the most crucial figure in Ripple’s development. Given the options of Jed McCaleb, Schwartz himself, Chris Larsen, Brad Garlinghouse, or others, Schwartz named Chris Larsen as the most important person in Ripple’s history.

I think Chris. He really believed in, and committed to, the idea at a stage where that was hard to do and well before I did.

— David "JoelKatz" Schwartz (@JoelKatz) May 16, 2024

Chris Larsen, a co-founder of Ripple Labs, played a foundational role in the company’s establishment and growth. According to Schwartz, Larsen’s unwavering belief in Ripple’s potential at a time when the concept was still nascent was instrumental. Schwartz highlighted that Larsen’s early commitment and vision for Ripple were pivotal, noting that Larsen had confidence in the company’s future well before others, including Schwartz himself.

Larsen co-founded Ripple in 2012 along with Jed McCaleb and Arthur Britto. He served as the CEO until 2016 when he recruited Brad Garlinghouse to take over the leadership. Larsen’s belief in the project and his strategic decisions during the early years laid a solid foundation for Ripple’s subsequent advancements.

Legal Challenges and Vindications

Ripple faced legal challenges in December 2020 when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against the company, accusing it of raising over $1.3 billion through an unregistered securities offering by selling XRP. The lawsuit, also named Larsen and Garlinghouse, caused substantial turbulence for Ripple.

Despite these challenges, Larsen and the Ripple team managed to secure several legal victories. In October 2023, the SEC dropped charges against Larsen and Garlinghouse, marking the third partial victory for Ripple in this ongoing legal battle. Some have viewed these legal successes as positioning the SEC as the underdog in the lawsuit, with Ripple gaining momentum as the trial phase progresses.

Brad Garlinghouse’s Leadership

While Schwartz identified Larsen as the most crucial figure in Ripple’s history, other influential voices have highlighted Brad Garlinghouse’s contributions. John E. Deaton, a US attorney representing thousands of XRP investors, praised Garlinghouse for his leadership and resilience, especially in navigating the legal challenges posed by the SEC. 

Even if you hate @Ripple or #XRP, you have to be impressed by what Ripple has accomplished during the last 3 years. Not only did it grow its business – almost tenfold – during an extended brutal bear market – but did so while under the dark cloud of an SEC enforcement action… https://t.co/qJNClw3H8K

— John E Deaton (@JohnEDeaton1) October 25, 2023

Deaton suggested that Garlinghouse’s role in securing legal victories and steering Ripple through turbulent times positions him as a strong candidate for recognition, potentially even as “CEO of the decade” if Ripple pursues an initial public offering (IPO) in the future.

Garlinghouse joined Ripple as CEO in 2016 after Larsen persuaded him to leave a potential position at Uber. Since then, he has been at the forefront of Ripple’s strategic initiatives, guiding the company through growth phases and legal hurdles. His leadership has been pivotal in maintaining the company’s stability and driving its ongoing projects.