Ripple (XRP-USD) just became the first crypto firm to own a global prime broker—snapping up Hidden Road for $1.25 billion. But beyond the flashy headline, the real story is what this means for XRP. The answer? It could supercharge demand, visibility, and use cases for the token—especially as Ripple expands its footprint across traditional finance.
Ripple Brings Clearing In-House and Puts XRP to Work
This isn’t just about buying infrastructure. Hidden Road clears over $3 trillion annually for more than 300 institutions. Now, with Ripple in charge, parts of that flow will shift to the XRP Ledger. Instead of using slow fiat rails, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said Hidden Road will start settling trades using XRPL—and even more notably, Ripple’s own stablecoin, RLUSD, will be used as collateral.
Garlinghouse posted that the acquisition is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to connect crypto and traditional markets. And for XRP, it means becoming a critical piece of that plumbing—not just a speculative asset.
Ripple Bets on M&A, Not IPO, to Grow XRP’s Reach
Ripple isn’t trying to go public right now. According to President Monica Long, who spoke at Paris Blockchain Week, the company isn’t chasing liquidity. “We are definitely a player in M&A right now,” she said. Translation: Ripple’s using private muscle to expand XRP’s footprint globally—fast.
This deal also lands at a moment of rare regulatory clarity. As Garlinghouse noted, U.S. crypto regulation is finally shifting after years of SEC uncertainty.
XRP Could Gain Utility as RLUSD Rolls Out
Ripple’s push with RLUSD gives XRP extra firepower. Stablecoin-backed clearing is picking up speed. That shift could open the door for XRP to play a bigger role in settlement infrastructure and attract more institutional trading through Hidden Road’s network.
At the time of writing, XRP is sitting at $1.90.
