XRP marked its 14th anniversary on Tuesday, June 2, with Ripple executives and long-time community figures reflecting on the asset’s origins just as the company announced a larger footprint in Washington, D.C.
The anniversary traces to a code commit by developer Arthur Britto on June 2, 2012, when he modified the creation of the first ledger in the rippled repository. The patch, titled “Fix starting number of XNS,” established the foundation for what would become XRP, the network’s native asset. XRP has a fixed supply of 100 billion tokens.
David Schwartz, Ripple’s former chief technology officer and architect of XRP Ledger, reflected on the milestone. “14 years ago, we got together with an idea to build a better way to move value. What happened next was something none of us could have built alone. And by ‘us,’ I don’t just mean the three of us. I mean the developers, validators, businesses, community members, and everyone who helped shape XRP into what it is today,” Schwartz said. He also posted simply: “Happy Birthday, XRP!”
Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple CEO, echoed the sentiment. “14 years later” it was “still the honor of a lifetime to be part of the XRP family,” he said.
Washington expansion signals policy focus
Ripple’s expanded Washington, D.C. office reflects the company’s strategy to engage directly with policymakers and regulators on digital asset regulation. Stuart Alderoty, Ripple Chief Legal Officer, framed the expansion as foundational to the company’s mission.
“Ripple has always believed the future of digital assets should be built with policymakers and regulators, not around them. Expanding our Washington, D.C. presence reflects our long-term commitment to constructive engagement, regulatory clarity, and US leadership in financial innovation,” Alderoty said. “As blockchain and digital assets become more integrated into the financial system, Ripple is committed to helping shape policy that protects consumers, supports responsible innovation, and keeps America competitive.”
The office expansion positions Ripple as a hub for policy engagement and stakeholder convening with financial institutions and industry partners. Ripple describes itself as a provider of blockchain-based solutions across traditional and digital finance, with products spanning global payments, custody, liquidity and treasury management. The company cited its stablecoin RLUSD and XRP as assets underpinning parts of its product suite.
The timing aligns with ongoing policy discussions in the United States around market structure, stablecoins, payments modernization and responsible blockchain innovation. Ripple characterizes the current period as a “defining moment” for US digital asset policy.
At press time, XRP traded at $1.24.
