Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said on Aug. 20 that the company is aggressively adopting artificial intelligence as it pursues further revenue and workforce growth.

Speaking at the SALT Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, Garlinghouse described AI as an “enabler and an accelerant” for companies that already have growing businesses and customer demand.

“AI, if you are in a business that has opportunity to grow and you’re serving customers and have compelling solutions, AI just lets you do that better and faster and stronger,” Garlinghouse said during the recorded interview.

He added that Ripple has approximately 1,500 employees worldwide and 150 open positions. Garlinghouse said the company intends to keep expanding because its business is growing.

Ripple sees AI as an expansion tool

Garlinghouse rejected the argument that AI is necessarily responsible for large corporate layoffs. He suggested that some companies may be using the technology to justify workforce reductions that were already needed.

“When I see companies announce big layoffs and they say, ‘Oh, well, AI X, Y, and Z,’ that to me says, ‘Well, they were bloated before and they’re using this as an excuse,’” he said.

His comments represent an opinion about recent layoffs rather than evidence about individual companies. Businesses have attributed workforce reductions to several factors, including automation, restructuring, operating costs and changes in customer demand.

Ripple’s public careers portal displayed 94 available positions when reviewed. The difference from Garlinghouse’s figure may reflect roles that have not been posted publicly, positions under recruitment through other channels or changes since the conference appearance.

Some listings directly connect Ripple’s engineering strategy with AI. One senior engineering role calls for an “AI native operation” using agentic development methods to expand the company’s payout network without relying entirely on traditional headcount growth.

Institutional expansion supports Ripple’s growth claim

Garlinghouse said Ripple expects a record year and will “more than double revenue year on year.” Ripple is privately held and does not publish the audited quarterly financial statements required of public companies. The revenue projection therefore remains company guidance.

The company has expanded beyond its original cross border payments business through acquisitions and new institutional services. Ripple completed its $1.25 billion purchase of Hidden Road in October 2025 and renamed the business Ripple Prime.

As previously reported, the acquisition expanded Ripple into global prime brokerage services covering digital assets and traditional markets. Ripple says the division clears more than $3 trillion annually for over 300 institutional customers.

Ripple previously said the prime brokerage business had tripled in size between the acquisition announcement and its completion. That figure is a company supplied measure and has not been independently audited through public financial filings.

The company has also expanded into corporate treasury management. In related coverage, Ripple introduced an enterprise platform for managing digital assets and liquidity following its acquisition of treasury software provider GTreasury.

Ripple’s AI strategy targets financial infrastructure

Garlinghouse connected the company’s outlook with its longstanding focus on financial infrastructure. Ripple sells payment, custody, stablecoin, prime brokerage and treasury services to institutions.

“More and more people are realizing that the infrastructure side, the institutional side is where it’s at,” he said. He described Ripple’s role as connecting traditional finance with decentralized financial infrastructure.

Ripple President Monica Long made a similar case in the company’s 2026 predictions. She said AI models could work alongside blockchains to automate liquidity management, margin calls and portfolio rebalancing.

The strategy does not mean Ripple will replace employees with autonomous systems. Its current position is that AI can increase the output of existing teams while helping the company serve more customers and enter additional markets.

The next measurable tests will be Ripple’s hiring activity and whether it reaches Garlinghouse’s revenue target. Any public listing could eventually provide independently audited financial information, but the company has not announced a confirmed timetable for an initial public offering.

Ripple’s commercial growth also should not be treated as automatic growth for XRP. Ripple is a private company, while XRP is a separate digital asset. As crypto.news previously explained, many Ripple services can grow without creating direct demand for XRP.

Bitcoin tops $72,500 as SHRMiner draws attention with simplified cloud mining contracts for digital asset holders.

While U.S. stocks cooled amid U.S. threats of an “economic war” against Iran, Bitcoin continued to climb, reaching a multi-month high above $72,500.

After gaining nearly $10,000 in just four days, Bitcoin’s renewed momentum has fueled growing optimism among market participants.

As the crypto market enters a new cycle, Bitcoin (BTC) is once again becoming a major focus for investors worldwide. At the same time, the SHRMiner cloud mining platform is attracting increasing attention from market participants.

SHRMiner allows users to participate in cloud computing power contracts using digital assets such as BTC, ETH, DOGE/LTC, ZEC, and USDT. There is no need to purchase mining hardware or deal with complicated equipment deployment, technical maintenance, or day-to-day operations. Users can participate in digital asset mining while receiving earnings that are automatically settled according to the terms of their contracts.

For crypto holders who want to reduce frequent trading while exploring additional cash-flow opportunities, this offers an alternative way to put digital assets to work beyond simply buying and selling.

Why is SHRMiner attracting more attention?

Unlike traditional mining, which often comes with a high technical barrier to entry, SHRMiner focuses on simplicity and a user-friendly experience, making cloud mining more accessible to everyday users.

The platform currently offers several key features:

• Supports major digital assets including BTC, ETH, LTC, and DOGE
• Automatically allocates cloud computing power after a user selects a contract
• Uses enterprise-grade data centers to operate mining infrastructure
• Some infrastructure is powered by renewable energy
• Contract earnings are automatically settled every 24 hours according to the agreed terms
• Users can monitor their accounts and earnings from either desktop or mobile devices

For crypto investors, this model offers an alternative to simply holding assets and waiting for prices to rise. By using computing power contracts, users can put a portion of their digital assets to work in an effort to generate ongoing returns.

This is also why cloud mining continues to attract attention even when major cryptocurrencies such as BTC experience short-term price volatility. More investors are looking beyond short-term price movements and paying greater attention to asset efficiency, earning cycles, and cash-flow management.

SHRMiner beginner’s guide: Start cloud mining in four steps

SHRMiner has simplified the entire process so that even users with no previous mining experience can get started.

1. Create an account

Visit the official SHRMiner website or use its mobile service and register with an email address.

For a limited time, new users can receive a $15 signup bonus. (Click here to create an account.)

2. Choose a cloud mining contract

The platform offers cloud mining contracts with different funding levels, contract periods, and projected return structures.

Users can choose a plan based on their budget, preferred capital commitment period, and risk tolerance without having to research mining hardware models, hash rate configurations, or data center infrastructure themselves.

3. Use supported digital assets

Users can purchase eligible cloud mining contracts with supported digital assets such as BTC, ETH, XRP, and USDT.

Once the purchase is completed, the platform allocates the corresponding cloud computing resources based on the selected plan, while the data center handles ongoing operation and maintenance.

4. Activate the contract and start earning

Once the contract is activated, earnings begin to accrue according to the terms of the selected contract.

Earnings are generally settled automatically to the user’s account every 24 hours. Users can choose to withdraw their earnings based on their own financial plans or apply them toward additional contracts to explore the potential benefits of compounding.

The entire process eliminates the need to purchase mining equipment, build mining systems, manage electricity consumption, or handle hardware maintenance, significantly reducing the technical barriers traditionally associated with digital asset mining.

Popular cloud mining contracts

Different contracts vary in investment amount, operating period, and projected earnings, allowing users to select a mining contract based on their individual financial preferences.

Once a contract begins, the corresponding earnings are automatically credited to the account according to the contract terms. When the contract expires, the corresponding principal will also be returned according to the applicable contract terms. Actual amounts, contract periods, and earnings depend on the specific contract selected by the user.

For additional mining contracts and complete terms, click here to view product details.

Why are more investors paying attention to cloud mining?

Compared with operating mining equipment independently, the biggest difference with cloud mining is that users do not have to directly manage complex mining infrastructure.

Key advantages include:

• No need to purchase or maintain specialized mining equipment
• No need to directly manage electricity expenses or day-to-day hardware operations
• No need to constantly monitor markets or trade frequently
• Contract earnings are automatically settled every 24 hours, with withdrawals available anytime and no hidden fees
• Users can choose computing power contracts with different amounts and durations based on their individual capital requirements

For crypto enthusiasts who already hold BTC, ETC, DOGE, LTC, ZEC, and other digital assets, the appeal is straightforward: they can maintain their existing digital asset strategy while exploring the possibility of generating additional returns through cloud computing power.

In other words, investors are increasingly shifting their focus from simply asking “Will the asset price go up?” to considering “How can I make my digital assets work more efficiently?”

In short

For those who are looking for ways to increase passive income, cloud mining can provide another option to consider. When used appropriately, these opportunities can help users accumulate crypto assets in a more automated way while requiring relatively little day-to-day involvement.

At the very least, the model can require significantly less time than many forms of active trading. Passive income remains an important goal for many investors and traders, and with SHRMiner, exploring ways to maximize passive-income potential has become more accessible than ever.

Bitcoin pushed to fresh highs on Friday, revisiting the $77,000 area and trading at levels not seen since late May. The rally coincided with renewed confidence around Strategy’s corporate treasury position, which had been under scrutiny after the firm’s earlier BTC sales.

According to TradingView data cited in the report, BTC/USD posted local highs above $77,400 before the week’s final Wall Street session. The move also placed Strategy’s holdings back above its stated cost basis, a threshold that matters to investors watching whether the company’s Bitcoin-backed capital strategy remains sustainable.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin reached about $77,000, its highest level since May 26, after trading above key resistance and reclaiming important technical levels.
• Strategy’s Bitcoin treasury returned to profit versus its reported cost basis of $75,385 for 840,447 BTC.
• On-chain analytics from Glassnode highlighted a dense realized-price cost-basis cluster forming below $70,000, with roughly 11% of BTC supply in the $58,000–$67,000 band.
• Support is forming around a technical and on-chain overlap near $68,000, after BTC broke above levels including the 200-day simple moving average around $68,967.

Bitcoin revisits $77,000 as Strategy turns the corner

The latest upswing appears to have been driven by a mix of market momentum and a specific corporate timing factor: Strategy’s reported treasury economics improved as BTC rose back above its cost basis.

Data referenced from BitcoinTreasuries indicates that Strategy’s cost basis for its BTC holdings—840,447 BTC—stands at $75,385. With Bitcoin now trading above that figure, the report states Strategy has returned to a year-to-date gain of roughly $450 million. For traders, corporate treasury profitability can influence market narratives around large holders; for Strategy-watching investors, it reduces the immediate pressure tied to “mark-to-market” concerns during drawdowns.

In the same broader context, TradingView monitoring cited in the coverage shows BTC/USD briefly pressing above $77,400 on its way toward Friday’s close. The article notes that BTC did not meaningfully consolidate in the immediate run-up, underscoring how quickly sentiment can shift once price clears prior levels.

Earlier BTC sales and the buyback structure

Strategy’s improving position did not occur in a vacuum. Earlier in August, Cointelegraph previously reported that between Aug. 3 and Aug. 9, Strategy sold a portion of its Bitcoin holdings—1,690 BTC—then used the proceeds to repurchase 1.15 million shares of its STRC preferred stock for $108.6 million. That was described at the time as the company’s fourth Bitcoin sale of 2026.

Those transactions raised questions among some observers about the long-term durability of Strategy’s Bitcoin investment thesis. In response to such concerns, analyst William Clemente argued that the subsequent BTC price strength should reduce the urgency of those fears. On X, Clemente wrote that the “Saylor/Strategy fears” should have been less relevant after Michael Saylor indicated willingness to sell BTC to fund STRC buybacks, and that with the current price impulse Strategy is now “even more over-collateralized” by its BTC holdings.

The corporate backdrop also included comments from Strategy’s current CEO, Phong Le, in an earlier August Fox News interview. Le said Strategy would return to buying Bitcoin before the end of the year—an assertion that, if followed through, would be consistent with the idea that sales have been used tactically rather than signaling an exit.

On-chain “buy wall” forms below $70,000

Beyond Strategy-specific developments, the report points to a broader market support structure visible in on-chain data. During a period when investors have been assessing whether Bitcoin’s upside can hold, Glassnode analysis highlighted a growing “safety net” below $70,000 based on realized cost basis distribution.

As summarized in the article, some 3.44 million BTC now have an on-chain cost basis between $58,000 and $67,000. Of that amount, 2.23 million BTC—approximately 11% of total supply—was added over the past 11 weeks. Glassnode cofounder Rafael Schultze-Kraft described this concentration as the “densest cost-basis cluster below spot,” calling it a key potential support zone should price retrace.

In practical terms, realized cost-basis clusters can matter because they represent coins bought (or last moved/realized) near specific price levels. When price falls back toward those areas, supply behavior often changes: holders may be more inclined to defend those positions or, conversely, may be more likely to sell if they were waiting for confirmation to exit. The article’s framing suggests that, for now, the market is developing a cushion rather than a void.

Technical levels reclaimed: $68,000 and the 200-day SMA

The week’s price action also included important technical confirmation. The report notes that BTC/USD broke through several key resistance levels, including the 200-day simple moving average (SMA) around $68,967—described as a “key target to reclaim” to end the long-term downtrend.

This technical reclaim lines up with the on-chain support narrative. The on-chain cluster discussed by Glassnode sits below $70,000, while the article specifically references a “new band of support” forming around the $68,000 area. It’s the overlap between these two kinds of signals—an SMA that tends to influence longer-horizon positioning, and a realized-price cluster that may anchor dip demand—that can strengthen market conviction during volatility.

Still, the report emphasizes that volatility remains part of the equation, with investors looking for whether the move can translate from a breakout to sustained consolidation above reclaimed levels.

Going forward, traders and long-term holders will likely watch whether Bitcoin can hold above the reclaimed resistance zone near $68,000–$69,000 and whether on-chain support beneath $70,000 continues to grow; Strategy’s treasury also remains a focal point, since continued BTC purchases (as CEO Phong Le indicated) would further shape market sentiment about large-holder intent.