Ripple is positioning artificial intelligence as a core driver of business expansion rather than a tool for workforce reduction, according to chief executive Brad Garlinghouse. Speaking at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Garlinghouse described the company’s approach as deliberate and growth-oriented, even as the broader cryptocurrency market faces ongoing challenges.

AI Framed as Growth Accelerator

Garlinghouse said Ripple has adopted AI aggressively across its operations. He characterized the technology as an enabler that allows companies with existing customer demand and strong solutions to scale more effectively. In his view, AI supports faster and more robust execution rather than substituting for human roles in expanding businesses.

He pushed back against claims that AI is the primary cause of large-scale corporate layoffs. Garlinghouse suggested that some firms citing the technology as justification for job cuts may have been overstaffed previously and are using AI as a convenient explanation. Ripple’s own trajectory, he noted, points in the opposite direction.

Hiring Continues Alongside Business Growth

The company currently employs approximately 1,500 people worldwide and maintains about 150 open positions. Garlinghouse stated that hiring will continue because the underlying business is expanding rapidly. AI, he added, simply helps the organization grow into that increased demand more efficiently.

Public listings on Ripple’s careers site showed fewer than 150 openings at the time of recent reviews, a difference that may stem from unposted roles, alternative recruitment channels or timing. Some engineering positions specifically reference AI-native approaches designed to scale the company’s payout network without proportional headcount increases.

Revenue Outlook and Institutional Focus

Despite a prolonged period of market weakness, Garlinghouse projected that Ripple will more than double its annual revenue in 2026 and deliver a record year. The privately held firm does not release audited public financial statements, so the forecast remains internal guidance.

Growth is being supported by expansion beyond the company’s original cross-border payments focus. Ripple completed its acquisition of Hidden Road in late 2025 and rebranded the unit as Ripple Prime. The division clears more than $3 trillion annually for over 300 institutional clients across digital and traditional markets. Additional moves into corporate treasury services followed the purchase of GTreasury, giving the firm tools for digital asset and liquidity management.

Garlinghouse tied these developments to a long-standing emphasis on financial infrastructure. He observed that more market participants now recognize the institutional side of the industry as central, describing Ripple’s role as connecting traditional finance with decentralized systems.

Strategic Context

The company views AI as complementary to its infrastructure strategy rather than a replacement for staff. Internal applications range from operational efficiency to engineering workflows that support broader product development. Garlinghouse’s comments align with earlier statements from Ripple leadership about pairing AI models with blockchain capabilities for tasks such as liquidity management and portfolio processes.

Ripple’s commercial expansion does not automatically translate into increased demand for XRP, the separate digital asset associated with the firm. Services can scale through multiple channels without direct reliance on the token. The next concrete indicators of progress will be continued hiring activity and delivery against the stated revenue target.