According to CryptoPotato, David Schwartz, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ripple, recently participated in a Q&A session where he was asked to name the most significant person in the company's history. Schwartz chose Chris Larsen, one of the co-founders of Ripple Labs and the fintech company behind Ripple and the XRP Ledger. Schwartz cited Larsen's early commitment to the company and his belief in Ripple's potential as the reasons for his choice.
Larsen served as the CEO of Ripple until 2016, when he stepped down and appointed Brad Garlinghouse as his successor. In December 2020, Larsen, Garlinghouse, and Ripple were accused by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of raising over $1.3 billion through an unregistered securities offering by selling XRP. However, the charges against the executives were dropped in October 2023, marking Ripple's third partial court victory.
The legal battle between Ripple and the SEC has now entered its trial phase, with both parties presenting necessary documents and adhering to the rules set by the magistrates. American lawyer Jeremy Hogan recently stated that the briefs stage of the trial has been completed, and the parties are now awaiting the judge's ruling.
John E Deaton, a prominent US attorney representing thousands of XRP investors in the case against the SEC, believes that CEO Brad Garlinghouse has played a significant role in Ripple's legal victories. Deaton suggested that if Ripple goes public in the next few years, Garlinghouse should be considered for the title of 'CEO of the decade'.
