Ripple Acquires Hidden Road: A Historic Move in the Crypto Industry
Ripple has just completed one of the most ambitious acquisitions in the history of cryptocurrencies. The blockchain payments company officially announced on April 8th that it has acquired Hidden Road, a crypto-compatible prime broker, for a colossal amount of $1.25 billion. This acquisition propels Ripple into a new dimension, far beyond its initial role in crypto fund transfers.
With over $3 trillion in clearing volumes and more than 300 partner institutions, Hidden Road plays a central role in market infrastructure. By absorbing this giant, Ripple becomes the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker. According to the company, this position could make it the largest non-bank prime broker on the planet.
A Strategic Move in a Changing Regulatory Landscape
This acquisition comes at a particularly favorable time for Ripple. After years of conflict with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the California-based firm seems to have turned a decisive page. Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, refers to it as a “turning point” for the adoption of digital assets in the United States, stating that “the US market is truly open for the first time,” thanks to the collapse of the previous regulatory approach.
For Ripple, this acquisition is not an end in itself but a strategic lever. Its aim is to strengthen the adoption of its institutional stablecoin RLUSD, launched at the end of 2024, and to accelerate the integration of its solutions into traditional finance. The role of XRP, Ripple’s native token, is also expected to strengthen as the company refines its offerings and enters new markets.
Hidden Road: Accelerated Growth on the Horizon
Marc Asch, founder and CEO of Hidden Road, sees this acquisition as an unprecedented deployment opportunity:
With new resources, additional licenses, and reinforced venture capital, we will be able to increase our capacity, develop new products, and expand our coverage in markets and asset classes.
Beyond the amount and scope of the acquisition, this operation marks a symbolic turning point. It illustrates the increasing maturity of the crypto sector and its ability to establish itself in the upper echelons of global finance.
