Brad Garlinghouse, the CEO of blockchain startup Ripple, projected that the cryptocurrency market’s total capitalization could hit $5 trillion this year. What Happened: Garlinghouse’s bullish forecast for the crypto market is driven by several macro factors, including the launch of the first U.S. spot Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and the upcoming bitcoin “halving,” reported CNBC. The Ripple CEO pointed to the influx of institutional money into the market, facilitated by the ETFs, as a significant factor. He also noted that prices are likely to rise as demand increases and…