Monica Long Takes the Helm as President of Ripple: What This Means for the Crypto Giant

The Rise of Monica Long at Ripple

Monica Long, who has been a familiar face at Ripple since 2013, has officially stepped up as the company’s new president. Previously the general manager, Long’s promotion signifies a strategic pivot for Ripple as it navigates its journey through the crypto landscape. She transitioned from director of communications to general manager of RippleX, and now, she’s got the big chair!

A ‘Nebulous’ Role with a New Light

Historically, the presidency at Ripple has been more of a shared title than a defined role. Co-founders Brad Garlinghouse and Chris Larsen have donned the hat over the years, but it seems it’s time for a fresh face—Long! This transition reflects a shift towards a more structured leadership as the company gears up for its next chapter in the blockchain revolution.

Timing is Everything

Long’s ascension comes during a buoyant period for Ripple. In her own words, “It’s a job of continuing to scale.” She shared this insight with Cointelegraph, emphasizing the company’s resilience. Having survived numerous crypto winters (for those keeping score, that’s more winters than your average polar bear), Ripple is basking in the glow of record growth and expanding customer engagement.

Team Spirit

As the gears of Ripple continue to turn, Long is keen on team expansion: “We’re continuing to grow our team.” But don’t worry; they’re not just hiring anyone off the street—this is Ripple we’re talking about!

The On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) Advantage

Joining Ripple when it had just ten employees, Long’s influence is hard to miss. She led the charge in developing the On-Demand Liquidity solution, which has become a cornerstone of Ripple’s offerings since its launch in 2018. According to Long, ‘Over 60% of RippleNet’s payment volume was sent through ODL last year.’ Talk about moving money like a boss!

New Developments Ahead

On the RippleX front, exciting times are ahead as Long mentions plans to put an automatic market maker specification to a vote among validators. Sounds like a party, huh? Get ready for some Shake It Off vibes!

Ripple’s Ongoing Legal Roller Coaster

As if leading a crypto company wasn’t challenging enough, Ripple is still grappling with a legal showdown against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC’s complaints about an unregistered securities offering could be hitting a boiling point soon. Garlinghouse hinted at a potential decision being made this year, so the plot thickens.

The Future is Bright

With Long at the helm, Ripple is positioned to tackle challenges head-on and seize opportunities as they arise. We can only watch and cheer as she navigates through this ever-volatile industry!