Ripple takes center stage at Wyoming blockchain event

SALT announced on July 30 that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse will speak at the third annual Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, scheduled for Aug. 17--20 at the Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole.

Summary

• Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse will speak at Wyoming's invitation-only symposium from August 17 through 20.
• Five hundred investors, builders and policymakers are expected at the third annual Jackson Hole gathering.
• Ripple also sponsors the event, while organizers continue adding speakers and sessions before opening day.

The official speaker announcement confirmed his addition to the lineup but did not identify a session title, speaking time or discussion partner.

The invitation-only event is expected to bring together 500 investors, builders and policymakers. SALT and Kraken are hosting the gathering with support from the University of Wyoming Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation and the Blockchain Association.

Meanwhile, the symposium begins with a welcome reception on Aug. 17. Organizers have scheduled two days of content and meetings for Aug. 18 and 19, followed by optional excursions on Aug. 20. Registration requests remain subject to approval by SALT and Kraken.

The current speaker roster includes SEC Chair Paul Atkins, Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Sen. Ruben Gallego and Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould. Industry participants include Galaxy founder Michael Novogratz, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, Stellar Development Foundation CEO Denelle Dixon and Custodia Bank founder Caitlin Long.

U.S. crypto policy is likely to dominate discussion

SALT lists changes to U.S. and global crypto regulation among the event's main themes. Other planned topics include Bitcoin's role as a store of value, digital asset investment strategies, decentralized artificial intelligence and the future structure of financial markets.

Garlinghouse has recently pressed Congress to pass the CLARITY Act, which would create a federal market structure for digital assets. As crypto.news reported, he argued on July 22 that lawmakers should move forward rather than abandon the bill while seeking a perfect compromise. However, SALT has not confirmed that his Wyoming appearance will focus on the legislation.

Ripple continues to take part in U.S. policy debates through Garlinghouse and Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty. The company's regulatory interests include XRP's legal treatment, stablecoin rules and institutional access to blockchain-based payments. Any remarks at the symposium would represent Ripple's position and would not create new law or regulatory guidance.

Ripple's Wyoming ties extend beyond sponsorship

SALT lists Ripple as a sponsor of the 2026 symposium. The company also has an existing relationship with the University of Wyoming, one of the event's academic partners.

In 2022, Ripple funding helped establish the Ripple Blockchain Collaboratory at the university. The program supports blockchain, cryptocurrency and cybersecurity research across the university's business, engineering and law programs. The university also operates an XRP Ledger validator.

Ripple said in October 2025 that the University of Wyoming was among the academic partners receiving renewed University Blockchain Research Initiative grants. The company reported distributing more than $1.5 million in renewed grants across several universities using its RLUSD stablecoin. That total covered the wider group of institutions and was not disclosed as the University of Wyoming's individual award.

Wyoming has also developed its own digital asset policy infrastructure. In related coverage, the state launched FRNT, a state-issued dollar stablecoin, on Solana in January 2026. The symposium's location therefore places Ripple executives alongside state officials and federal policymakers in a jurisdiction already testing blockchain-based financial products.

What happens before the Aug. 17 opening

SALT says the agenda and speaker list will continue to expand on a rolling basis. The next verified update should clarify Garlinghouse's session topic, scheduled time and whether he will appear alone or in a panel discussion.

The organizer says conference panels will generally be on the record unless stated otherwise. Evening events and excursions will remain off the record, while media attendance is limited and subject to approval.

No verified XRP price movement or Ripple business development can be directly attributed to the speaker announcement. The event notice did not include a product launch, partnership, financial disclosure or regulatory decision.

For now, the confirmed development is Garlinghouse's addition to the August lineup. Further details will depend on SALT's final agenda and any separate announcement from Ripple before the event.

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