Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of Ripple, has found himself at the center of discussion yet again.

Ripple’s CEO follower count, which remained stable at 589 for a long time, went to 590. But after some time, the count came back to 589 again.

This time, attention is drawn to his social media follower count, which has been linked to a controversial prediction of XRP’s future price. Garlinghouse maintains his follower count at precisely 589, a figure that has led to speculative connections with an alleged prediction that XRP could reach the same value of $589.

Man is a true XRP OG. Always 589 pic.twitter.com/JHea4ASLRb

— Cobb (@AlexCobb_) August 18, 2024

The speculation emerged in 2022, fueled by the circulation of a fake image from The Simpsons. The image showed Bart Simpson writing “XRP to hit $589+ by EOY” on a chalkboard, a supposed reference to the token’s future price. Although the episode has been debunked, some enthusiasts continue to support the idea.

Persistent Speculation Surrounding XRP

Despite debunking the fake episode, the notion that XRP could one day hit $589 persists. In 2023, David Gokhshtein, a former U.S. Congressional candidate, brought up the XRP $589 prediction, comparing it to forecasts suggesting Bitcoin could hit $1 million.

While Gokhshtein clarified that he was not endorsing the prediction, he pointed out the differing reception both forecasts received within the crypto space.

However, legal experts and other community members dismiss the connection between Garlinghouse’s follower count and XRP’s price. Attorney Bill Morgan described the fixation on the number 589 as irrelevant, stressing that it has no bearing on XRP’s price trajectory.

That @bgarlinghouse keeps his following at 589 is the most singularly irrelevant information I have ever encountered about XRP or its price or price prediction. https://t.co/4BRLP9qb92

— bill morgan (@Belisarius2020) August 18, 2024

Despite these assertions, some community members argue that Garlinghouse’s decision to maintain 589 followers may serve as a humorous nod to the prediction, while critics believe it feeds unnecessary hype.

Community Reactions

Several individuals shared their opinions in response to the ongoing debate about Brad Garlinghouse’s follower count. One commenter suggested that the number was maintained on purpose, a view that attorney Bill Morgan agreed with.

Another noted that Garlinghouse did it for humor and team spirit, although some in the XRP community took it literally.

A critic argued that Garlinghouse was feeding into the meme to keep the community excited about an unrealistic future.

Another participant dismissed the relevance of the follower count, stating they would rather rely on Ripple CTO David Schwartz’s statement, “It [XRP] Can’t Be Cheap.”

Diverging Views on XRP Price Forecasts

While the ongoing speculation captures attention, more concrete price predictions have surfaced from market analysts. A recent analysis forecasted a price of $26.5 as a potential top for XRP during a bullish cycle.

This prediction contrasts sharply with the $589 figure, positioning itself within a more attainable range. Analysts based their predictions on technical indicators, specifically Fibonacci levels. One such expert, Doctor Magic, noted that while some may find higher price speculations exaggerated, the forecasts are grounded in market analysis.