Ripple: The Business of Crypto

David B. Yoffie; George  Gonzalez

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Case | HBS Case Collection | April 2019

Ripple: The Business of Crypto

by David B. Yoffie and George Gonzalez

Abstract

The case explores Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s mission to disrupt the global payments industry by leveraging the cryptocurrency XRP. Students will learn about Bitcoin and the blockchain industry, as well as Ripple’s unique crypto business model. The case provides an opportunity to navigate the areas of distributed technology, platforms, regulation, and global payments, from the perspective of a San Francisco software startup with over $20 billion in digital assets.

Keywords: payment systems; cryptocurrency; Bitcoin; Blockchain; fintech; Disruption; Currency; Business Model; Software; Business Startups; Financial Services Industry; Technology Industry;