[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong] Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse appeared in public with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent at the 'Swell 2026' event held in New York, drawing attention.

On Oct. 27 (local time), blockchain outlet U.Today reported that the meeting drew attention from the XRP community as Ripple continues its push into the mainstream financial system.

Bessent is known to have been added to the Swell speaker lineup shortly before the event. He has been one of the most active supporters within the Trump administration for overhauling the digital asset regulatory framework, repeatedly urging Congress to advance the Clarity bill. He has argued that clearer rules would help protect U.S. competitiveness in the fast-growing crypto industry.

This is not the first link between Ripple and Bessent. Ripple attended a financial industry roundtable held at Downing Street in September 2025, where Bessent and UK finance minister Rachel Reeves were also present. The discussions later led to the launch of a joint U.S.-UK initiative dealing with financial markets and digital assets.

The appearance comes at an important time for Ripple. Ripple said on Oct. 26 it received final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB). It then disclosed on Oct. 27 an expansion of cooperation with BNY and Robinhood. That reinforces the event's message that Ripple is further strengthening ties with existing financial institutions.

Swell 2026 runs from Oct. 27 to 29 at The Shed in Manhattan. Ripple expects more than 1,500 people to take part and more than 100 speakers to appear across three stages. It is structured to bring together traditional finance, the crypto industry, academia and participants in the XRP ecosystem.

The event also includes figures well known in finance and to the public. Actor Matt Damon will attend as a co-founder of Water.org. Damon and Gary White are set to discuss how Ripple's payments infrastructure and RLUSD could support financial inclusion and improved safe access to water.

An agenda item highlighting the intersection of traditional finance and digital assets is also planned. Tom Farley, former president of the New York Stock Exchange and now CEO of Bullish, will join Garlinghouse for a discussion on the convergence of traditional financial markets and digital assets. Before the event, the phrase, 'XRP is the new Bretton Woods,' also spread online.

Against this backdrop, Swell 2026 is being read as a stage that reveals Ripple's current strategy rather than a simple industry event. A U.S. government figure who supports regulatory overhaul joined the venue, while Ripple has put its links to the regulated financial system front and center by announcing bank approval and expanded cooperation with financial institutions at the same time.

XRP is the new Bretton Woods. https://t.co/irkT6wvuSX