Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse will headline the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium 2026 as the company’s sponsorship places him alongside SEC Chair Paul Atkins during a period of ongoing Senate negotiations over the CLARITY Act.
SALT revealed on July 29 that Garlinghouse will be the main featured speaker at the third annual Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, a private gathering expected to bring together around 500 investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers. The event, organized by SALT and Kraken, will be held at the Four Seasons Resort in Jackson Hole from Aug. 17 to Aug. 20.
Ripple is also among the event’s sponsors, listed in the “Grand Teton” tier alongside Galaxy, Clear Street, and Multicoin Capital, according to SALT’s website. Garlinghouse’s role therefore extends beyond a simple speaking appearance, placing Ripple in a prominent position at one of the year’s most policy-focused crypto events.
The symposium arrives at a significant moment for the company. Ripple has recently concluded its multi-year legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, while lawmakers continue debating legislation that would establish clearer rules for digital asset markets.
The announcement comes as XRP trades around $1.06, with the token down nearly 2% over the past day and about 1.5% over the last week. XRP’s 24-hour trading volume has fallen to roughly $1.14 billion from $1.22 billion the previous day.
The event’s speaker lineup, announced by SALT and supported by additional reports, includes SEC Chair Paul Atkins, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott, and Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould.
Other notable participants include Galaxy CEO Michael Novogratz, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, Stellar Development Foundation CEO Denelle Dixon, Custodia Bank founder Caitlin Long, Kraken CEO David Ripley, and Ondo Finance executive John Hoffman.
The symposium will focus on major crypto policy and industry themes, including digital asset regulation in the U.S. and abroad, Bitcoin’s role in corporate treasuries, tokenization of traditional financial assets, and decentralized AI infrastructure.
Unlike a traditional public conference, the event is designed as a private industry forum. Main panel discussions will be on the record, while evening events and excursions on Aug. 20 will be held privately, reinforcing its role as a venue for closed-door discussions among policymakers and industry leaders.
Ripple’s Regulatory Landscape and CLARITY Act Debate
Garlinghouse’s appearance follows Ripple’s March 2026 settlement with the SEC, which ended the agency’s enforcement action related to allegations of an unregistered $1.3 billion XRP offering from 2020. The company agreed to pay $150 million as part of the resolution.
His appearance alongside SEC Chair Paul Atkins highlights the evolving relationship between crypto companies and regulators as Washington continues working through questions surrounding digital asset oversight.
On July 22, Garlinghouse urged lawmakers to advance the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, describing the legislation as important for strengthening consumer protections and creating regulatory certainty. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has also supported efforts to move the bill forward.
Although the legislation has attracted bipartisan backing, it still requires 60 Senate votes to pass and faces opposition from several Senate Democrats concerned about ethics provisions and consumer protection measures.
Ripple’s involvement also aligns with Wyoming’s growing role in blockchain development, including state-backed initiatives such as the recently introduced FRNT stablecoin.
The Wyoming gathering could offer insight into the future direction of crypto regulation, especially if the CLARITY Act remains unresolved before lawmakers enter recess.
While no major announcements are expected from the event, discussions there could influence policy conversations later in the year, including those surrounding Ripple’s Swell 2026 conference scheduled for Oct. 27–29 in New York City.
