Ripple has announced the agenda and speaker list for Swell 2026, its flagship event, which will take place from October 27 to 29 at The Shed in New York City. The company confirmed that more than 1,500 attendees are expected at this year’s gathering.
Star-studded keynote and new conference format
For the first time, Ripple will merge Swell with its XRP Ledger-focused Apex event and UBRI Connect, an academic conference designed for members of the University Blockchain Research Initiative. This move aims to unite key segments of the blockchain and academic communities under a single forum.
Matt Damon, the acclaimed actor and co-founder of Water.org, will headline one of Swell’s keynote sessions. Damon will appear alongside Gary White, Water.org’s co-founder and CEO. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse will act as moderator during their conversation.
Damon and White, who created Water.org in 2009, plan to discuss how modern financial systems can advance efforts to move money efficiently and affordably, particularly in critical development regions.
During the session, the Water.org founders will share insights on how digital financial infrastructure is transforming access to life-changing resources globally.
Ripple noted that Water.org leverages a finance-driven approach and already collaborates with the company on projects targeting Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
Ripple highlighted that its Payments platform and the dollar-backed RLUSD stablecoin are being integrated to enhance Water.org’s operational reach in underserved markets.
Mini dictionary: RLUSD, Ripple’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, is designed for fast, low-cost cross-border payments on the XRP Ledger.
Wall Street presence and crypto industry leaders
This year’s Swell will feature a notable presence from Wall Street and traditional financial firms, with heavyweight executives joining the roster.
Tom Farley, chairman and CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange operator Bullish, will participate in a session focused on the intersection of digital assets and legacy finance. Farley, who previously served as president of the New York Stock Exchange, will join a fireside chat moderated by Garlinghouse.
Robinhood’s crypto and international division will also be represented. Johann Kerbrat, who serves as senior vice president and general manager in the division, is expected to share insights alongside Ripple President Monica Long.
Leading institutional voices will join the event to discuss evolving trends in trading and liquidity. Laide Majiyagbe, BNY’s Global Head of Markets, will appear with Tradeweb CEO Billy Hult for a dedicated session on structural change across global markets.
The expanded agenda reflects Ripple’s ambition to position Swell not only as a blockchain conference, but as a cross-industry summit attracting major names from finance, technology, and academia.
