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.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP have gained nearly 20%, over 25%, and almost 30%, respectively, this week.
• Expanded U.S. Treasury debt buybacks have improved liquidity expectations and boosted demand for risk assets.
• Bitcoin trades around $76,800 after breaking above its 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day exponential moving averages.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP extended their rallies Friday as improving liquidity expectations continued to lift the broader cryptocurrency market.

Bitcoin has gained nearly 20% this week, while Ethereum has risen more than 25% and XRP has advanced almost 30%.

The rally gained momentum after the U.S. Treasury announced plans to double the size of certain debt buyback operations. 

The decision eased liquidity concerns and strengthened demand for risk-sensitive assets.

With the three cryptocurrencies trading firmly higher, investors are now watching whether Bitcoin can reach $80,000, Ethereum can reclaim $2,500, and XRP can advance toward $1.50.

Treasury buyback expansion strengthens crypto rally

The U.S. Treasury’s decision to expand its debt buyback program has helped improve sentiment across financial markets.

Larger buybacks can support liquidity in the market for longer-dated Treasury securities, easing financial pressures and encouraging investors to increase their exposure to riskier assets.

Cryptocurrencies responded strongly to the announcement, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP recording double-digit weekly gains.

Short liquidations also accelerated the rally as bearish traders were forced to close their positions, adding further buying pressure.

Bitcoin was trading around $76,800 on Friday after decisively breaking above its major exponential moving averages.

The 200-day EMA stands at $71,545, while the 100-day and 50-day EMAs are located at $66,727 and $65,286, respectively.

BTC’s position above all three indicators supports a bullish near-term outlook and suggests the market’s broader technical structure has improved considerably.

The breakout was accompanied by strong trading volume, adding credibility to the latest upward move.

Sustained trading above the 200-day EMA would reinforce the case for further gains and could establish the level as new support.

BTC bulls target the $80,000 resistance

Bitcoin’s next major resistance lies near the psychological and horizontal barrier at $80,000.

A move from $74,700 to $80,000 would represent an additional gain of approximately 7.1%.

However, the $80,000 level could attract profit-taking and fresh selling pressure following Bitcoin’s rapid weekly advance.

A decisive break and daily close above the barrier would strengthen the bullish outlook and potentially open the way to higher levels.

Failure to clear $80,000 could lead to a period of consolidation as traders digest the recent gains.

Bitcoin’s momentum indicators remain bullish but increasingly stretched. The relative strength index is hovering near 83, placing BTC firmly in overbought territory. Such an elevated reading does not guarantee an immediate reversal, but it indicates that the rally may be vulnerable to a corrective pause.

The moving average convergence divergence remains strongly positive, showing that upward momentum is still intact.

Together, the indicators suggest bulls remain in control, although the risk of short-term profit-taking has increased.

If Bitcoin retreats, initial support sits at the 200-day EMA near $71,545. Holding above this indicator would preserve the immediate bullish structure and could provide a foundation for another attempt at $80,000.

A deeper correction could bring the 100-day EMA at $66,727 and the nearby horizontal level at $66,500 into focus.

Below that region, the 50-day EMA at $65,286 offers another layer of support, followed by the structural floor at $62,300.

A sustained decline below $62,300 would weaken the broader bullish outlook, while continued trading above the 200-day EMA would keep the $80,000 target within reach.