Ripple CEO Links Dutch Gold Move to Crypto’s Growing Role
Swan.my.id - Jakarta, the Ripple CEO Dutch gold move has renewed debate about how the global financial system transfers value. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the transaction showed that financial infrastructure still operates in ways that resemble the 1940s.
De Nederlandsche Bank, the Dutch central bank, moved around 86 tons of gold to London between March and August. The gold came from New York and Ottawa as part of a broader adjustment to the location of the Netherlands’ reserves.
The move involved both physical transfers and transactions recorded on paper. DNB sold approximately 59 tons of gold in New York and bought the same amount back in London. As a result, only 27 tons physically crossed the Atlantic.
Ripple CEO Dutch Gold Move Highlights an Old Financial System
Garlinghouse pointed to the transaction as an example of the complexity still present in global finance. Nearly 70% of the relocation involved changes in ownership records rather than the physical movement of gold.
Following the adjustment, New York holds 18.5% of the Netherlands’ gold reserves, down from 31.3%. London’s share increased to 32.1%. DNB now holds a total of 612.4 tons of gold, valued at approximately 72.2 billion euros at the end of 2025.
Garlinghouse compared this structure with the development of crypto assets over the past decade. He said the sector had grown from an experiment valued at US$1.5 billion into an asset class worth US$2.7 trillion.
Why the Netherlands Moved Gold to London
DNB Governor Olaf Sleijpen said the relocation was intended to prepare for a potential crisis, not to signal a lack of confidence in Washington. London handles a much larger volume of physical gold trading than Ottawa.
“With this relocation, we are improving the ease with which we can trade our gold reserves. We hope we will never need to use them, but we need to strengthen resilience and preparedness.”
The decision therefore focused on market access and operational readiness. By keeping more gold in London, DNB expects to make its reserves easier to trade if a crisis requires rapid action.
The move also recalls Germany’s gold repatriation effort in 2013. Bundesbank needed four years to bring back 674 tons of gold valued at approximately US$36 billion.
Crypto Offers Speed, but Trust Remains a Challenge
Garlinghouse argued that the gold relocation reflected a wider weakness in traditional financial infrastructure. Banks still settle value through correspondent banking queues, while stablecoins can complete payments almost instantly.
SWIFT activated its own blockchain ledger in July. However, the final settlement process still relies on the legacy system. This means that adopting blockchain technology does not automatically remove older settlement structures.
Garlinghouse expressed a similar view after Ripple’s partnership with Mastercard in June. XRP traded around US$1.40, down 3.65% on the day but up 21% over three months.
The Bank for International Settlements also tested the XRP Ledger during the month. The prototype could record official statistics within three to five seconds, while verification took one to two seconds.
Technology Does Not Replace Financial Guarantees
Speed gives crypto an important advantage in payment and settlement processes. Nevertheless, faster transactions do not resolve every concern surrounding financial infrastructure.
Central banks still require secure vaults, insurance, and legal guarantees. These safeguards support confidence in physical reserves and remain central to how institutions manage risk.
The Dutch decision shows that traditional finance continues to prioritize structural security and market access. Digital assets, meanwhile, are attempting to offer a faster way to move and verify value.
For Garlinghouse, the contrast is clear: the financial system can use advanced technology, yet its core processes still depend on older arrangements. Crypto may improve settlement speed, but broader adoption will depend on whether it can also provide the trust and legal certainty required by central banks.
What the Dutch Gold Move Means for Crypto
The relocation does not prove that crypto will replace gold or the banking system. Instead, it illustrates why institutions continue to search for more efficient ways to manage reserves and settle transactions.
London’s role as a major physical gold market influenced the Dutch decision. At the same time, blockchain experiments show that financial institutions are examining faster digital infrastructure.
These developments point to two different priorities. Traditional finance emphasizes custody, insurance, and legal certainty, while crypto focuses on speed, transparency, and programmable settlement.
The debate will likely continue as central banks and financial institutions test blockchain-based systems. For now, the Dutch gold move demonstrates that the global financial system remains deeply connected to legacy processes, even as digital assets offer a faster alternative.
