Ex-CFTC Chair Reacts After XRP 589 Appears in Times Square Celebration

Times Square just got a crypto billboard moment—and a former top regulator had something to say about it.

The Signal in the Square

Forget subtle marketing. The appearance of 'XRP 589' on one of the world's most famous screens wasn't just an ad buy; it was a statement. It cuts through the regulatory noise and plants a flag where traditional finance watches—literally—from every corner.

A Regulator's Take

The reaction from the former CFTC chair adds a crucial layer. It bypasses the usual cheerleading from within the crypto bubble and brings an institutional, compliance-focused perspective to a highly public stunt. The commentary suggests these displays are being read not just by retail investors, but by the very halls of power that once dismissed them.

Why This Cuts Through

This isn't about a random price pump. It's a masterclass in narrative warfare. Deploying a major asset's branding in the heart of traditional finance's theater forces a conversation on crypto's terms. It makes adoption visible, tangible, and unavoidable—a far cry from trading on obscure charts watched by a niche few.

The real genius? While Wall Street funds another over-leveraged ETF, crypto just rented its billboard. Sometimes, the most sophisticated financial move is a brilliant, expensive piece of trolling.

TLDR

• Times Square’s 2026 numbers use exactly 589 LED bulbs in the New Year display.
• Former CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham reacted with rocket emojis to the XRP-related post.
• XRP community links the number 589 to long-running price and adoption theories.
• Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse keeps his following count at 589 on X profile.

An unexpected detail in New York City’s Times Square New Year’s Eve display has reignited excitement within the XRP community. The 2026 sign was revealed to feature exactly 589 LED bulbs — a number deeply associated with XRP enthusiasts. The coincidence quickly spread online, drawing attention from crypto supporters and a surprising reaction from former CFTC Acting Chair Caroline Pham, adding regulatory intrigue to the already buzzing XRP narrative.

589 Bulbs in Times Square Display Catch XRP Community’s Attention

A CBS Bay Area (KPIX) segment recently showed behind-the-scenes footage of New York City’s Times Square preparations for the 2026 New Year’s Eve event. The report revealed that the upcoming “2026” sign features exactly 589 LED bulbs in total.

Each number in the display uses a specific number of bulbs, and the total was confirmed by city officials in the broadcast. This particular detail—589—quickly drew attention online due to its connection with a well-known figure within the XRP community.

https://twitter.com/TheCryptoSquire/status/2005304368309121404?s=20 

A widely followed XRP account, NotFinancialAdvice.Crypto, shared the video, highlighting the bulb count. The post questioned the exactness of the number and asked if it was a coincidence. Crypto payment company MoonPay reposted the video and emphasized the detail with the statement: “Not 588, not 590 — but 589.” The company referred to it as “the most XRP-coded New Year’s Eve of all time.”

Caroline Pham Reacts to XRP-Linked Display

The conversation gained momentum after Caroline Pham, a former Acting Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), reacted to MoonPay’s post. Now serving as Chief Legal Officer at MoonPay, Pham responded with rocket emojis.

Although her reaction was limited to emojis and did not contain a direct statement, it triggered further discussions across the XRP community. Some interpreted it as a signal of acknowledgment, especially given Pham’s regulatory background.

Online personalities such as X user RAY Ray suggested the number may be more than coincidence. Another user, X Finance Bull, commented on the timing and repeated appearance of the number, calling it “a pattern, not chance.”

Why the Number 589 Matters in the XRP Ecosystem

The number 589 has a long-standing connection with XRP and its online community. It originally appeared in early content shared by XRP supporters and has since become a symbol linked to price predictions and future market expectations.

The meme regained visibility earlier in December after the official X account of solana posted “589,” drawing millions of views. Community members often associate the number with bullish predictions, especially during key crypto events.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also appears to maintain his X account’s following count at 589, which many see as another connection to the number’s symbolism.

ISO 589 Code and Ongoing XRP Speculation

Some analysts have pointed out that ISO 4217, the standard for currency codes, does not currently assign the number 589. This detail has added another angle for speculation within the XRP community, which often discusses future use cases for XRP in international finance.

As New Year’s celebrations approach, the appearance of 589 in a high-profile location like Times Square continues to fuel discussions about XRP’s visibility and momentum. Whether planned or coincidental, the recurrence of the number keeps XRP in online conversations.

Caroline Pham’s reaction has given further attention to the moment, connecting both the regulatory and crypto worlds once again.