Key Takeaways
- Ripple has finalized its acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road.
- The acquired firm has been rebranded as Ripple Prime, a move expected to accelerate XRP and Ripple USD adoption.
- This acquisition marks Ripple as the first cryptocurrency company to operate a global multi-asset prime brokerage.
- Ripple Prime will offer institutional clients settlement, custody, trading, and financing services across both digital and traditional assets.
Ripple Finalizes Acquisition of Hidden Road, Launches Ripple Prime
Ripple has successfully completed its acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road, a significant development that has garnered considerable attention across the cryptocurrency market. The announcement of the finalized deal follows Ripple’s initial plans revealed in April 2025 when they proposed acquiring the firm for $1.25 billion.
Hidden Road offers institutional investors a comprehensive suite of services, including access to digital assets, foreign exchange, derivatives, and fixed income. The rebranding of the acquired entity to Ripple Prime signifies a strategic move by Ripple to enhance its offerings and market presence.
Ripple Prime: A New Era for Institutional Digital Asset Services
The newly established Ripple Prime is poised to provide institutional clients with integrated access to settlement, custody, trading, and financing solutions. This includes bridging digital assets with traditional finance instruments such as FX and derivatives, catering to a sophisticated client base.
The integration between Ripple and Hidden Road will continue over the coming months. Marc Asch, the founder and CEO of Hidden Road, will collaborate closely with Ripple’s leadership team, including CEO Brad Garlinghouse, to steer the platform’s evolution.
Ripple intends to leverage its existing crypto infrastructure, spanning custody, payments, and stablecoins, to bolster the capabilities of Ripple Prime. This strategic enhancement is also expected to positively impact the trajectory of XRP, the company’s native digital asset.
⚡ Furthermore, Ripple Prime is anticipated to play a crucial role in driving the adoption of Ripple USD (RLUSD), the U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin that Ripple launched in late 2024.
Strategic Acquisitions Bolster Ripple’s Ecosystem
The acquisition of Hidden Road is part of a broader strategic expansion by Ripple, which has completed several key acquisitions in the past two years. These strategic moves aim to build a robust and comprehensive financial technology ecosystem.
Notably, Ripple recently announced its acquisition of treasury management provider GTreasury for $1 billion. Prior to that, the company had acquired stablecoin payments platform BePay in August 2025, as well as Standard Custody and Metaco in June 2024 and May 2023, respectively.
These acquisitions underscore Ripple’s commitment to expanding its service offerings and strengthening its position as a leader in digital asset solutions for institutions.
Expert Summary
Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road, now rebranded as Ripple Prime, marks a significant step in its strategy to offer a global multi-asset prime brokerage. This move is expected to enhance institutional access to digital and traditional financial instruments and drive adoption for XRP and Ripple USD.