Ripple has announced the acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, a strategic move that positions it as the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker.
The deal marks a significant expansion of Ripple’s institutional services and reflects its aim to bridge digital assets with traditional financial infrastructure.
The company emphasized its commitment to delivering scalable digital asset solutions for institutional clients. Hidden Road’s platform offers access to asset classes and trading venues, expanding Ripple’s reach into new markets and client segments.
Monica Long Highlights Strategic Alignment
In a response on X, Ripple President Monica Long framed the acquisition as a natural extension of both companies’ shared mission to build better infrastructure for global value movement. She stated that Ripple and Hidden Road focus on addressing inefficiencies in the financial system—specifically the “walled gardens, fragmented rails and monolithic entities of the past.”
Long pointed out that decentralized finance has primarily served crypto-native participants, limiting broader institutional adoption. She said the acquisition offers a pathway to “break down those barriers” and deliver an integrated experience to institutional users.
The fundamental tenets of what both Ripple and Hidden Road are trying to do are the same – build better financial infrastructure for global movement of value than the walled gardens, fragmented rails and monolithic entities of the past. Decentralized finance thus far has been… https://t.co/AlP1mqEHyi
— Monica Long (@MonicaLongSF) April 8, 2025
Institutional Capabilities and Risk Management
According to Long, one of the core advantages of the Hidden Road platform is its ability to allow institutional investors to post multiple forms of collateral, including crypto and tokenized assets, to a single counterparty. Through Hidden Road, users gain access to over 100 venues and liquidity providers, supporting more than 1,000 assets across FX, crypto, and fixed-income markets.
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Long emphasized the operational complexity of providing that level of access while maintaining robust risk controls. She referred to this as “no small feat to achieve today,” highlighting the challenges in such systems.
Future Integration with the XRP Ledger
Looking ahead, Long indicated that Ripple plans to integrate the XRP Ledger (XRPL) for post-trade settlement. This could expand the utility of Ripple’s core blockchain infrastructure within institutional workflows.
She also noted the future inclusion of RLUSD, Ripple’s stablecoin, as a supported collateral option on Hidden Road’s platform. The SEC recently declared that USD-backed stablecoins like RLUSD are not securities, removing potential regulatory hurdles.
Long closed her remarks by highlighting the significance of the milestone. She noted that this major development, which many thought was impossible, has become a reality, and promised that more announcements will follow in the coming weeks.
Disclaimer: This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are urged to do in-depth research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.
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