Binance’s U.S. comeback is increasingly seen as inevitable, with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stating that its return could intensify competition, lower prices, and reshape the regulatory and market balance across the American crypto economy.
Ripple Signals Binance’s US Comeback Could Ignite the Next Crypto Growth Wave
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse weighed in on shifting dynamics within the U.S. cryptocurrency landscape as regulatory debates continue. He shared his assessment on Jan. 20, stating that Binance’s return to the U.S. market is unavoidable and could reshape competition across the sector.
“It’s a very large market, and … not that many years ago, they were a material player,” Garlinghouse stated in a CNBC interview in Davos. The Ripple chief executive added:
“I think they’ll come back because they’re a capitalistic, innovative company that wants to solve … larger markets and continue to grow.”
His remarks followed separate comments from Binance co-CEO Richard Teng, who described the exchange’s current posture as a “wait-and-see” approach toward reentering the U.S., which he characterized as “a very important marketplace.”
Binance exited the country in 2023 after reaching a $4.3 billion settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ) tied to compliance failures, and the subsequent guilty plea of then-CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ). Zhao later received a pardon from President Donald Trump, fueling renewed speculation about Binance’s strategic options.
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Garlinghouse outlined why he views a comeback as broadly positive for digital asset markets, emphasizing competition, liquidity, and pricing efficiency. He stressed that renewed participation by a global exchange would expand access and reduce costs, noting:
“I think it will actually have the positive impact of bringing more people into the market, in part because it’ll reduce pricing.”
He contrasted current conditions, stating, “Today their pricing is lower on a global basis than what we see here in the U.S.”
The discussion unfolded amid intense debate over the Genius Act ( stablecoin law) and the proposed Clarity Act. While Garlinghouse remains supportive of the current framework, federal oversight stalled in mid-January 2026 after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong abruptly withdrew support for the Clarity Act. This forced the Senate Banking Committee to postpone its markup session. Armstrong identified several non-negotiable flaws, arguing the draft favors traditional banks by effectively banning stablecoin rewards to prevent capital flight from savings accounts. Additionally, Coinbase opposed restrictions on tokenized equities and decentralized finance ( DeFi). Despite this friction, many advocates believe resolving these hurdles—combined with a potential U.S. return for Binance—could signal a major bullish turning point for the economy.
FAQ ⏰
- Why does Brad Garlinghouse think Binance will return to the U.S.? He says the U.S. is too large and important for a global exchange like Binance to ignore.
- How could Binance’s return affect U.S. crypto markets? Garlinghouse argues it would boost competition, , and lower pricing.
- Why did Binance leave the U.S. market in 2023? Binance exited after a $4.3 billion DOJ settlement and compliance-related guilty plea.
- What role does crypto regulation play in Binance’s potential comeback? Pending legislation like the Clarity Act could shape the rules for Binance’s reentry.
Author: Kevin Helms
Source: Bitcoin
Reviewed By: Editorial Team
