Ripple 
$3 Labs is under scrutiny for reportedly spending millions of dollars to lobby against the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin 
$106,496 Reserve (SBR). Pierre Rochard, Vice President of Research at Riot Platforms, claims that Ripple is actively working to undermine these plans by influencing politicians.
The Strategic Bitcoin Reserve: Rochard’s Claims
Rochard argues that the primary obstacle to establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve is not the Federal Reserve or the U.S. Treasury, nor figures like Elizabeth Warren. Instead, he believes the main issue lies with Ripple Labs and its focus on XRP. He contends that Ripple is aggressively lobbying against the SBR and spending millions to dissuade policymakers.
Ripple Labs CEO’s Reaction
In response to Rochard’s claims, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse suggested that Rochard may be overlooking fundamental principles of Donald Trump’s campaign. Garlinghouse emphasized the campaign’s promises to support American companies and technologies. He asserted that Ripple Labs’ efforts could actually enhance the likelihood of a strategic reserve, including Bitcoin.
Trump has signed an executive order for national digital asset storage on the X platform, supporting the inclusion of various altcoins, including XRP. This announcement is viewed as a significant development for the crypto industry, as Trump largely fulfills his campaign pledges related to the digital currency ecosystem.
Following his inauguration, Trump appointed Mark Uyeda as the interim head of the U.S. SEC and Caroline Pham as the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Both regulators have shown support for the crypto sector, leading to further intrigue about Ripple Labs’ response to these initiatives.
The ongoing struggle between Ripple Labs and the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve raises questions about how these dynamics will shape the company’s future strategies. Observers are closely monitoring the implications of such developments for the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
