Updated on:12/24/2025 05:05 PM 
Ripple Chief Executive Brad Garlinghouse has voiced his disappointment following the unexpected cancellation of a scheduled meeting with cryptocurrency-friendly U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis, who presides over the Senate's Digital Assets Subcommittee.
In a recent social media update on May 19, Garlinghouse disclosed his presence in Washington, D.C., where he had planned to engage with policymakers to advocate for sensible stablecoin regulations and improved cryptocurrency market frameworks.
The Ripple executive highlighted that the meeting was canceled without providing an opportunity to reschedule, despite his efforts to connect with the senator on digital asset policy matters.
While recognizing Senator Lummis' generally supportive stance toward cryptocurrencies, Garlinghouse urged her to reconsider her decision. He emphasized:
The abrupt cancellation has sparked widespread discussion across the cryptocurrency community, with various theories emerging regarding the potential motivations behind the senator's decision.
Industry observers have divided opinions on the matter. Some commentators viewed Garlinghouse's public expression of concern as counterproductive, while others suggested that Senator Lummis might demonstrate preferential treatment toward Bitcoin-related initiatives.
Pierre Rochard, head of Bitcoin Bond Company, proposed that Lummis might have declined the meeting due to Garlinghouse's support for Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), a position that conflicts with many Bitcoin enthusiasts' viewpoints.
Meanwhile, members of the XRP community have raised questions about possible conflicts of interest. An account known as Cowboy Crypto pointed out that Lummis' son-in-law, Will Cole, serves as a Bitcoin advocate who has previously made critical remarks about Ripple.
Cole, affiliated with Bitcoin payments company Zaprite, reposted content that mocked Garlinghouse, further fueling speculation about potential bias.
The social media account also drew attention to Lummis' financial connections to venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and her family's extensive involvement in the Bitcoin ecosystem.
In response to these revelations, Garlinghouse acknowledged the information, noting it is "certainly enlightening that Will Cole is related to Sen Lummis."
However, he emphasized that his inability to secure a meeting with the lawmaker despite six years of attempts was concerning. This led him to question whether the decision originated directly from Senator Lummis or her staff members.
