SBI Chairman Claims Ripple IPO Amid XRP Surge

Rumors of Ripple Labs CEO Met Trump Are Spreading
Predicting Ripple-SEC Litigation END·Ripple Labs IPO
Community "Ripple is Facing Different Paradigm by Trump"

Amid a recent surge in Ripple(XRP) over rumors stemming from its connection to Trump, SBI Chairman Yoshikata Kitao, known as one of the Ripple's largest shareholder, insisted on Ripple Lab's initial public offering(IPO).

Chairman Kitao posted a message on his X account on Nov. 17, saying, "Ripple should start preparing for an initial public offering(IPO) as soon as the US Securities and Exchange Commission(SEC) case is completed."

Chairman Kitao's comments are drawing great attention from both inside and outside the market as they are interpreted as having a great connection with the comments made in an interview by Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse.

Earlier, CEO Garlinghouse appeared in an interview with Fox Business TV on Nov. 16, hinting at a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump and major changes in the cryptocurrency market.

Asked by the anchor, "Did you meet Trump?" he replied, "I will not elaborate," adding, "Trump's election as the U.S. president ended the war in the U.S. cryptocurrency industry." "After the election, the Ripple(XRP) rose more than 70%," he said. "Now the U.S. cryptocurrency industry has entered a new phase."

CEO Garlinghouse's comment sent Ripple soaring about 151% over the weekend.

In particular, CEO Garlinghouse said this year that Ripple does not prioritize IPO. CEO Garlinghouse, who interviewed Think Crypto, a cryptocurrency media outlet in October this year, expressed his hostility toward the SEC and said, "The SEC is not our friend, and IPOs that require SEC's permission are not our top priority right now."

However, as former President Trump recently confirmed his election as the 47th U.S. president, cryptocureency community has recognized that the paradigm for Ripple has changed anew, and Ripple Lab's IPO is now a fully possible option.

권승원 기자 ksw@blockstreet.co.kr