SBI Holdings, Inc., alongside SBI Ripple Asia Co., Ltd., have issued a formal statement confirming Ripple Labs Inc.’s acquisition of Hidden Road using cash, XRP, and treasury stock. Some XRP community members see this move as a potentially transformative development for Ripple’s global footprint.
The announcement from SBI Holding emphasized the strategic alignment between Ripple and the broader SBI Group, reiterating the significance of Ripple’s latest acquisition executed with a combination of cash, XRP, and treasury stock.
🤔Significant? I find it interesting that SBI has made a formal announcement about Ripple's Hidden Road acquisition, too. There are certainly some exciting possibilities given the Osaka Exchange plans.
"SBI Holdings, Inc. and SBI Ripple Asia Co., Ltd. are pleased to announce… pic.twitter.com/IPPCclvJyb
— WrathofKahneman (@WKahneman) April 12, 2025
The notice from SBI Holdings, signed under the leadership of Yoshitaka Kitao (Chairman and CEO of SBI Holdings) and Masashi Okuyama (CEO of SBI Ripple Asia), underscores the company’s close ties with Ripple. Notably, the announcement translated reinforces Ripple’s role as “an important partner of the SBI Group.”
Community Figures Highlight Strategic Relevance
Well-known XRP community member WrathofKahneman (@WKahneman) commented on this development, stating: “Significant? I find it interesting that SBI has made a formal announcement about Ripple’s Hidden Road acquisition, too. There are certainly some exciting possibilities given the Osaka Exchange plans.”
His reference to the Osaka Exchange draws attention to SBI’s long-term ambitions to integrate digital asset infrastructure across Japanese financial markets, particularly through the Osaka Digital Exchange (ODX), where XRP and blockchain-based assets are expected to play a larger role.
In a quote shared in the SBI document, Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road was described as involving a major prime brokerage firm. Hidden Road, which provides institutional-grade access to foreign exchange, crypto, and other markets, positions Ripple closer to traditional financial services infrastructure.
Details of the Hidden Road Deal
The acquisition, as reported on April 8 by Times Tabloid, marks another in Ripple’s growing list of strategic buyouts. The acquisition was confirmed to include payments in XRP, showcasing Ripple’s intent to integrate its native digital asset deeper into the financial markets. The article described the deal as “record-breaking,” citing its implications for Ripple’s push to expand institutional crypto adoption.
Hidden Road’s existing client base and market access could provide Ripple with immediate operational leverage and further solidify its role within institutional finance. The use of XRP in the acquisition was interpreted as a strong signal of confidence in the token’s utility and liquidity, especially given Ripple’s ongoing legal clarity following recent developments in and out of the U.S. courts.
Broader Implications for XRP and Institutional Adoption
The community response to the announcement has been notably engaged. A user named Mr. K commented, “Ripple runs deep in multiple countries, once it’s announced to the masses. The price will break suppression and soar!” Such remarks reflect long-held beliefs within the XRP community regarding the asset’s price potential once broader institutional adoption materializes publicly.
Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road could mark an important step in its shift from a payments-focused company to a broader financial services provider. It’s still unclear if this move will directly impact XRP’s price, but it adds to the growing interest in Ripple’s expanding role in the digital asset space.
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