Brad Garlinghouse: What Amazon is for books, what is Ripple for cross-border payments

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently issued a striking statement, comparing Ripple's role in cross-border payments to Amazon's impact on the book industry. His comment, shared on X by crypto influencer Amelie (@\_Crypto_Barbie), excited the XRP community. Garlinghouse stated, "What Amazon plays a role in books, Ripple plays a role in cross-border payments." The CEO's statement suggests that Ripple wants to redefine global payments, much like how Amazon revolutionized online book sales and then expanded into many other industries.

This comparison shows Ripple's ambition to become a dominant force in the financial sector, leveraging XRP as a bridge asset for efficient, low-cost transactions. Why XRP is Right for This Role Garlinghouse's belief in XRP stems from its technical advantages. This asset enables near-instant transactions, with faster settlement times than those required by traditional banking systems. It also helps reduce costs, making it an attractive alternative for financial institutions that process large volumes of cross-border payments. Additionally, Ripple's (ODL) On-Demand Liquidity solution eliminates the need for pre-funded accounts in different countries, improving capital efficiency for businesses. This gives XRP a competitive advantage over legacy systems. Can XRP Dominate the Global Payment System? XRP is positioned as the solution to the inefficiencies of traditional cross-border transactions. Unlike current systems that rely on intermediaries and incur high fees, Ripple's technology allows for near-instant payments at significantly lower costs. Many supporters have compared it to SWIFT, putting this digital asset up as a potential alternative. One commenter on X expressed enthusiasm for wider use of XRP beyond cross-border payments, suggesting integrating XRP into corporate transactions, government refunds, and consumer payments. This reflects the growing belief that Ripple's infrastructure can scale beyond its original focus. Market Perspective Many in the XRP community support Garlinghouse's vision, with some comparing Ripple's potential influence to Microsoft's in the technology sector. One user noted that once financial institutions integrate with Ripple's system, they can become dependent on them in a similar way to how corporations continue to use Windows despite the drawbacks. This highlights the perceived long-term strength of Ripple technology. However, not all reactions were entirely optimistic. Some commenters point out that XRP's success ultimately depends on regulatory clarity and wider market adoption. While Ripple has made significant progress in securing partnerships with financial institutions, the legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has held back XRP for years. However, recent reports reveal that both sides are in talks and a deal could soon be made public, freeing Ripple and XRP to dominate the cross-border payments industry.