In what some would consider an unexpected move, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of digital asset firm Ripple Labs and majority holder of the XRP cryptocurrency, cleared the air about his position on bitcoin ( BTC). “I first bought bitcoin in 2012 coming out of an event when I was first introduced to it,” Garlinghouse explained. “And I am bullish on bitcoin period, full stop,” he added. Garlinghouse made the remarks on Wednesday at the Blockworks Digital Asset Summit in New York City during a fireside chat with Hunter Horsely, CEO of crypto investment firm Bitwise. Many in the Bitcoin community disparage XRP because 80% of the token supply was gifted to Ripple, effectively giving control of the asset to the firm. Garlinghouse even went as far as to say he is a BTC hodler. “I’ve used bitcoin for various transactions, but I haven’t sold it,” he said.