Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple and a prominent figure in Silicon Valley, is making headlines for pledging $10 million to support Kamala Harris’s campaign. Taking to his X handle, Chris wrote, “It’s time for the Democrats to have a new approach to tech innovation, including crypto. I believe @KamalaHarris will ensure that American technology dominates the world, which is why I’m donating $10M in XRP in support of her.”
In response, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed respect for Larsen’s choice, stating, “I respect Chris’ (and everyone’s!) right to support whomever they think is best to lead the U.S.” He stressed the need for a shift away from what he sees as the administration’s misguided approach to crypto.
Garlinghouse opened up about Ripple’s commitment to engaging with both Democrats and Republicans to promote pro-crypto policies. “It’s not about party lines; it’s about championing policies that drive blockchain and crypto innovation,” he said.
Larsen’s significant contributions include three donations totaling nearly $10 million to Future Forward, a Super PAC backing Harris, made in September. This follows an earlier donation of $1 million in XRP to the same PAC in August. In total, Larsen has contributed over $11.8 million to PACs supporting Harris’s campaign, making him one of the largest individual donors from the crypto industry this election cycle.
In an interesting twist, Ripple’s legal chief, Stuart Alderoty, recently donated $300,000 in XRP to a PAC supporting Donald Trump, known as Trump 47 PAC.
Garlinghouse Reacts To Elon Musk Being Asked About XRP
Elon Musk was asked if he sees the XRP Ledger being used by financial institutions in the future. He replied, “This is definitely not an endorsement or a lack of endorsement for XRP, but I do think crypto, by its very nature, helps with individual freedom.”
Garlinghouse wrote, “Voters care about crypto – they care about XRP – it’s not a niche issue. They want real policies that drive innovation and create jobs. Candidates that ignore crypto and blockchain risk a serious loss in support from a growing, informed voter base.”
