Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has made a high-profile appearance alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the company's Swell 2026 conference in New York City, attracting considerable attention from the XRP community.
Bessent was reportedly added to Swell's speaker lineup shortly before the event.
Bessent has emerged as one of the Trump administration's most vocal supporters of establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets.
He has repeatedly urged Congress to advance the CLARITY Act, arguing that clearer rules would help the United States maintain its competitive position in the rapidly developing cryptocurrency industry.
Notably, Ripple and Bessent have crossed paths before. In September 2025, Ripple participated in a financial industry roundtable at Downing Street attended by Bessent and British Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The discussions contributed to the establishment of a joint UK-U.S. initiative focused on financial markets and digital assets.
The latest appearance also comes at a particularly important moment for Ripple.
On October 26, the company announced that it had received final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish Ripple National Trust Bank.
Meanwhile, Ripple announced expanded collaborations with BNY and Robinhood on October 27, strengthening its relationships with established financial institutions.
Major figures at Swell
Bessent is far from the only prominent figure associated with this year's Swell conference.
The three-day gathering, taking place from October 27 to 29 at The Shed in Manhattan, brings together executives from traditional finance, cryptocurrency companies, academic institutions and the broader XRP ecosystem.
Ripple expects more than 1,500 participants, with over 100 speakers appearing across the event's three stages.
Among the most recognizable guests is Hollywood actor Matt Damon, who is participating in his capacity as co-founder of Water.org.
Damon and fellow Water.org co-founder Gary White are scheduled to discuss how Ripple's payment infrastructure and RLUSD can support financial inclusion and improve access to safe water.
Another major guest is Tom Farley, the former president of the New York Stock Exchange and current CEO of Bullish. Farley is scheduled to join Garlinghouse for a conversation about the convergence of traditional financial markets and digital assets.