When did Monica Long become Ripple President?

Monica Long was promoted to President of Ripple Labs in May 2023, during a pivotal moment following Ripple's significant legal victory against the SEC.

Exact Timeline:

May 2023: Announced as President of Ripple Labs

July 13, 2023: Two months after promotion, Judge Torres ruled XRP is not a security in secondary markets

Timing Significance: The promotion came during the final months of the SEC lawsuit, demonstrating Ripple's confidence and commitment to internal leadership development despite ongoing litigation.

Context of Promotion:

Why Spring 2023?

Ripple's leadership restructuring reflected several factors:

1. Scale and Complexity: Ripple had grown to 300+ employees globally with multiple product lines (RippleNet, ODL, RLUSD) 2. CEO Bandwidth: Brad Garlinghouse was heavily occupied with SEC lawsuit, investor relations, and external partnerships 3. Operational Need: Company needed dedicated operational leadership while Garlinghouse focused on strategy and legal matters 4. Succession Planning: Clear executive structure prepared Ripple for future leadership transitions 5. Maturity Signal: Traditional President role signaled Ripple's evolution from startup to established enterprise

What Changed with Promotion:

Before (as CMO): - Led marketing, brand, communications - Reported to CEO - Focused primarily on external positioning

After (as President): - Oversees product, engineering, operations, AND marketing - Second-in-command across all functions - Responsible for execution of company-wide strategy - Manages cross-functional initiatives - Represents Ripple in major partnerships

Announcement Details:

Ripple's announcement emphasized: - Long's decade of commitment (since 2014) - Her role in building Ripple's brand and customer relationships - Broader operational responsibilities in new role - Continued reporting to CEO Brad Garlinghouse

Reaction:

Internal: Largely positive; Long was well-respected and promotion seen as earned

Industry: Noted as signal of stability and maturity during lawsuit

XRP Community: Mixed; some praised internal promotion, others wanted external senior hire

Other Leadership Changes at Same Time:

The May 2023 promotion was part of broader restructuring: - Various VP promotions - New department heads announced - Organizational chart formalized with clear reporting lines - Preparation for post-lawsuit growth phase

Comparison to Industry Timing:

Monica Long's promotion to President came during a unique period:

Cryptocurrency Context (2023): - FTX had collapsed (November 2022) - Crypto winter was ongoing - Regulatory scrutiny was intense - Many companies were laying off, not promoting

Ripple's Countercyclical Move: Promoting Long signaled confidence and investment in leadership despite market conditions.

First Year Accomplishments (May 2023-May 2024):

In her first year as President, Long oversaw:

1. Legal Victory (July 2023): Company operations during and after SEC ruling 2. RLUSD Development: Stablecoin launch preparation and execution 3. ODL Expansion: New corridors in Middle East and Asia 4. Partnership Growth: Major new financial institution partnerships 5. Team Scaling: Resumed hiring after lawsuit uncertainty

Relevance to CEO Succession:

The President role (created in May 2023) is widely seen as grooming Monica Long for eventual CEO succession:

Scenario 1: Garlinghouse steps down in 3-5 years (2026-2028), Long becomes CEO

Scenario 2: Garlinghouse remains CEO indefinitely, Long continues as President managing operations

Scenario 3: Ripple IPO or acquisition triggers leadership changes

Regardless, the promotion positioned Long as the clear #2 executive and internal successor candidate.

How It Compares to Other Crypto Companies:

Few major cryptocurrency companies have formal President roles:

Coinbase: Brian Armstrong (CEO), Emilie Choi (President & COO) - similar structure

Binance: Had co-founders; He Yi remains as co-founder after CZ's resignation

Ethereum: No traditional corporate structure

Kraken: Jesse Powell stepped down as CEO, no President role

Ripple's traditional corporate structure is notable in an industry that often eschews hierarchy.

Long's Own Comments:

In interviews following her promotion, Monica Long stated: - "I'm honored to take on expanded responsibilities at this critical time" - "We're building for the long term, not just the next bull market" - "My focus is ensuring we execute on our strategy across all functions"

Bottom Line:

Monica Long became President of Ripple in May 2023, marking a pivotal evolution in Ripple's leadership structure. The timing—just before the SEC legal victory—demonstrated Ripple's confidence and commitment to long-term institutional development. Nearly three years later (as of February 2026), Long's role continues to expand as Ripple enters its post-lawsuit growth phase.

*Last updated: February 2026*