Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has expressed profound optimism for the cryptocurrency sector in 2026 and beyond, a sentiment echoed by banking giant JPMorgan, which predicts a significant market uplift tied to potential U.S. regulatory legislation.
Speaking as a keynote speaker at the XRP Australia 2026 hackathon in Sydney on February 27, Garlinghouse highlighted the collective, grassroots advocacy driving crypto's expansion and legalization. "There’s not one switch. It’s a hundred switches. It’s a thousand switches," he stated, describing how incremental progress from advocates worldwide is building toward an "exponential impact" for the industry. He praised the global community for helping debunk fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD), particularly around Ripple and XRP.
Separately, in a research report covered by Bloomberg, JPMorgan analysts presented a bullish outlook, suggesting cryptocurrency markets could receive a "meaningful lift" in the second half of 2026. The bank identified the likely passage of the U.S. Clarity Act as the primary catalyst. This comprehensive market structure legislation, expected to be approved by mid-year, would provide clear regulatory guidelines and end the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) previous approach of "regulation by enforcement."
JPMorgan analysts argued that this regulatory clarity would reshape the market, boost investor confidence, accelerate new entrants, and encourage institutional participation and asset tokenization. Patrick Witt, a member of the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, commented on the report with the word "Interesting."
