Hey, Amy! I saw that Ripple is supporting Kamala Harris in the election. Isn’t that surprising? I thought they’d back Trump.

Yeah, it’s a bit unexpected! Ripple has been neutral before, but now they’re playing both sides. Chris Larsen, Ripple’s co-founder, donated millions in XRP to Harris’ campaign.

Wow, millions? But why Harris? I thought Trump was more pro-crypto.

He is, and that’s what’s interesting. Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, said either Harris or Trump would be better for crypto than Biden. It looks like they’re trying to make sure they have support no matter who wins.

Oh, I get it. They want to be ready for any outcome. But why does Ripple need their support so badly?

Ripple has been battling the SEC for years over whether XRP is a security. They want to get an XRP ETF approved, but without political support, it might not happen.

What’s an ETF again?

It stands for Exchange-Traded Fund. If Ripple gets an XRP ETF approved, investors could buy and sell XRP through the stock market without owning the crypto directly. It’s a big deal because it would attract more investors.

Oh, like the Bitcoin ETFs, right? It sounds like it could really boost XRP.

Exactly! But with the SEC still pushing back, Ripple needs someone in power who’s open to approving these kinds of funds.

So, they’re betting on both Harris and Trump to cover their bases?

Yes, that’s the strategy. Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer even donated to Trump earlier this year, so they’re supporting both candidates to make sure they have options.

That’s smart, but risky too. What if neither candidate ends up helping them?

True, there’s always a risk. But Ripple sees this election as a turning point for crypto policy. Whoever wins could decide the future of XRP and other digital assets in the U.S.

I guess that’s why they’re going all in. It’s like they’re hedging their bets.

Exactly. With political donations from crypto companies at an all-time high, Ripple is making sure they have a seat at the table no matter who comes out on top.

Wow, it’s not just about tech anymore. Crypto companies really have to play politics, huh?

Definitely. The future of crypto is tied to regulations, so companies like Ripple have to be smart about how they influence those decisions.