In January 2020, Ripple's CEO Brad Garlinghouse spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, presenting the 'Internet of Value' vision and predicting the future of digital currencies.
Financial Infrastructure and CBDCs
At the World Economic Forum, the first CBDC Policymaker Toolkit was introduced, which outlined designs for sovereign digital currencies and interoperability issues.
Garlinghouse emphasized that while central banks would eventually issue CBDCs, they would not naturally work together across borders.
Ripple's Expansion Through Litigation
Just months after Davos, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple in December 2020. However, this did not halt Ripple's international expansion. The company strengthened relationships with central banks and governments, participating in digital currency pilot projects in countries like Bhutan, Palau, and Georgia.
The Future of XRP and CBDCs in 2025
Today, CBDCs are no longer theoretical. Many countries are running pilot projects, and some have already launched them. Ripple introduced RLUSD, a stablecoin that reinforces its position as a liquidity provider bridging CBDCs, stablecoins, and fiat currencies.
Brad Garlinghouse's speech in 2020 has become a significant milestone in the development of digital currencies and financial infrastructure. Five years later, Ripple has made substantial progress, building tools for CBDC integration.
