Ripple invests $1.25 billion in the acquisition of Hidden Road, rising to become the world's largest non-bank broker.

Blockchain payment company Ripple recently announced the acquisition of cross-asset broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion. This move is not only one of the largest mergers and acquisitions in the encryption field's history but also makes the company the first encrypted firm to own and operate a multi-asset brokerage business. It will undoubtedly strengthen the market influence of its stablecoin RLUSD and XRP, as well as further drive institutional adoption of the XRP Ledger.

Ripple steps into the brokerage business, establishing a non-bank dominance.

Through this $1.25 billion acquisition, Ripple has incorporated Hidden Road, making it the largest non-bank brokerage in the world.

Today, Ripple announced it is acquiring Hidden Road for $1.25B– becoming the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker. Together, Ripple and Hidden Road are bringing the promise of digital assets to institutional customers at scale, bridging…

— Ripple (@Ripple) April 8, 2025

Ripple announced that Hidden Road currently provides services to over 300 institutions, clearing more than $3 trillion in transaction volume each year:

By combining Ripple's Blockchain technology with Hidden Road's clearing capabilities, it is expected to significantly enhance the cross-border transaction efficiency and stability of the XRP Ledger.

RLUSD becomes a strategic main character: A new bridge in traditional finance

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated that Hidden Road will use the XRP Ledger to settle some transactions in the future, adopting RLUSD as the main collateral, replacing the traditional fiat settlement process that requires a 24-hour wait, significantly improving financial operational efficiency:

Using the XRP Ledger, along with our stablecoin RLUSD, Hidden Road customers no longer have to endure the lengthy wait for fiat settlement.

Undoubtedly, this acquisition will help RLUSD expand its institutional user base and consolidate Ripple's position in the stablecoin sector.

(Exploring Ripple's liquidity flywheel strategy: Can the new stablecoin RLUSD replicate the success of XRP?)

Garlinghouse also stated that as the regulatory pressure from the US SEC eases, this is a critical moment for the US market to fully open up to the encryption industry.

Ripple will leverage the technological advantages of XRP to seize this wave of market maturity and accelerate the integration of traditional finance and Blockchain.

( Blackstone President Gray: The IPO and merger market has begun to recover, and tariffs causing short-term market fluctuations do not disrupt long-term investments )

Ripple shifts strategy: focusing on acquisition rather than IPO

Ripple President Monica Long recently stated at Paris Blockchain Week that the company is currently focused on acquisitions rather than IPO (. She confidently said, "We are definitely a significant player in the M&A ) space right now."

IPO is significant for companies that need more capital, while Ripple is not lacking in liquidity. The key to growth lies in business expansion, which we achieve through acquisitions and organic growth.

It is not hard to see that by acquiring Hidden Road, Ripple has not only strengthened its power but also demonstrated its ambition to become an industry integrator.

Marc Asch, the founder and CEO of Hidden Road, also revealed that this move will further enhance customer volume and expand new markets, making Hidden Road a globally competitive brokerage platform:

We gain not only funds but also the resources, licenses, and global vision brought by Ripple.

XRP Ledger Embarks on a New Chapter: Focusing on Institutional-Level Applications

Ripple CTO David Schwartz excitedly stated on social media: "This could be a pivotal turning point in the history of the XRP Ledger."

He pointed out that Hidden Road processes over 10 billion USD and more than 50 million transactions daily. As long as a portion of that is transferred to the XRP Ledger, it will be a significant boost to its performance and reputation.

This will be a "critical moment" for the XRP Ledger, as the future tokenization applications of RLUSD and real-world assets (RWA) will further advance the growth momentum of the chain.

This article states that Ripple invested 1.25 billion USD to acquire Hidden Road, becoming the world's largest non-bank broker. It first appeared in Chain News ABMedia.