Harvard Business School Names Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse 2026 Business Leader of the Year

Gate News message, April 25 — Harvard Business School has named Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, its 2026 Business Leader of the Year. The honor was presented at a high-profile event hosted by the Harvard Business School Association of Northern California, drawing over 250 leading investors, founders, and executives.

Garlinghouse, who has led Ripple since 2016, was recognized for more than a decade of conviction in the crypto industry during a period of both deep skepticism and rapid transformation. Joined on stage by Chris Larsen, co-founder of Ripple, Garlinghouse’s tenure has been defined by a clear mission: to overhaul cross-border payments through Ripple’s “Internet of Value” framework, where money moves as instantly and effortlessly as information.

Under his leadership, Ripple has expanded into a global payments network operating across dozens of countries, positioning itself as a faster, more cost-efficient, and transparent alternative to legacy systems. Recently, Garlinghouse has emerged as a leading voice in crypto policy debates, highlighting growing momentum behind the CLARITY Act and arguing that the regulatory window is “wide open” for swift legislative action. Meanwhile, Ripple’s ecosystem continues to expand, with XRP seeing increased demand and new integrations, including wrapped XRP on the Solana network.

Garlinghouse recently marked 11 years at Ripple, underscoring his long-term commitment in an industry often shaped by rapid leadership changes. The recognition from Harvard Business School reflects a broader shift: blockchain and digital assets are no longer on the fringe of finance but are becoming part of its core evolution.