[Ripple CEO: Does Not Rule Out the Possibility of Resuming M&A in the Second Half of the Year] According to The Block, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated during the online XRP Community Day event that although the company will focus on business integration in the first half of 2026 and does not anticipate large-scale acquisitions, the possibility of resuming mergers and acquisitions in the second half of the year cannot be ruled out. Garlinghouse emphasized that 'XRP is Ripple's North Star,' and all of the company's business segments—including payments, custody, Ripple Prime, Ripple Treasury, and the RLUSD stablecoin—are centered around enhancing the utility, trust, and liquidity of XRP and the XRP Ledger.