Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is set for a high-profile, live podcast recording at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, January 21, at 10:30 AM CET. The session, part of the "All-In Podcast" hosted by Jason Calacanis, will take place at the exclusive USA House venue, which the U.S. State Department has designated as the country's official headquarters for the forum. This setting underscores the significant geopolitical weight of the discussions, which will include a massive U.S. delegation featuring Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The upcoming dialogue is particularly notable given Calacanis's longstanding public criticism of Ripple and XRP. He has previously labeled XRP as "the opposite of Bitcoin," a "centrally controlled security" designed to enrich its founders, and argued during the SEC lawsuit that the token was "clearly going to zero." The event presents a potential clash of ideologies, raising questions about whether Garlinghouse and Calacanis can find common ground on crypto's future.
This podcast is part of a broader, historic moment for cryptocurrency at Davos 2026. Ripple, as a sponsor of the USA House, is now positioned alongside traditional finance titans like BlackRock, Microsoft, and Pfizer in closed-door policy discussions. Sponsorship for this venue is reported to cost up to $1 million, highlighting the seriousness of the conversations about digital assets, AI, and economic growth.
Garlinghouse has been actively advocating for regulatory clarity, speaking at the concurrent CFC St. Moritz conference. He emphasized support for legislation like the U.S. Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, arguing that even imperfect rules are preferable to uncertainty and that the industry must work constructively with governments. This sentiment is echoed by other crypto leaders present, including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who is focused on promoting economic freedom and asset tokenization.
The collective presence of Ripple, BlackRock, and Coinbase at the world's premier economic forum signals a pivotal shift. Crypto is no longer a fringe topic but is actively helping to shape global financial and regulatory policy, marking its official entry into the circle of global power brokers.
