Key insights:
- Ripple Prime launches after $1.25B deal, boosting institutional reach
- RLUSD stablecoin adoption surges as Ripple expands key services
- Ripple’s billion-dollar acquisitions strengthen global dominance
- XRP integration powers Ripple’s next phase of digital innovation
Ripple has officially launched Ripple Prime, a new addition to its expanding suite of services, following the completion of its $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, a prime brokerage firm. This marks a significant milestone for the company as it expands its institutional offerings and solidifies its position as a leader in the digital asset space. The announcement was made in a blog post by the company, where they also confirmed the completion of the deal, initially announced in April.
With the acquisition of Hidden Road now finalized, Ripple plans to integrate Ripple Prime into its payment services, offering a broader range of solutions to institutional customers. Ripple highlighted that Ripple Prime will provide a global, multi-asset prime brokerage, marking the company’s entry into a new phase. The company’s advanced infrastructure in digital assets, including payments, crypto custody, and stablecoin services, will be complemented by Ripple Prime’s offerings.
Ripple’s use of XRP will also play a key role in the integration, providing a bridge between its existing services and the capabilities of Ripple Prime. The company emphasized that Ripple Prime would leverage blockchain technology to enhance operational efficiency and drive down costs in the future, aligning with Ripple’s vision of optimizing financial systems through innovation.
Ripple Expands Its Reach with Strategic Acquisitions
Ripple has been on an acquisition spree this year, with the Hidden Road deal following other strategic moves. Earlier in 2025, the firm acquired GTreasury for $1 billion and the stablecoin platform Rail in August. These acquisitions align with Ripple’s goal of expanding its digital asset infrastructure and increasing its presence in institutional markets. Ripple’s broader approach to growth demonstrates its commitment to providing comprehensive services to institutional players in the crypto market.
Ripple also emphasized the positive impact Ripple Prime would have on the RLUSD stablecoin. Ripple noted that the stablecoin, which already serves as collateral for prime brokerage products, would see a significant increase in utility and adoption. The company has observed growing interest from derivative customers who prefer to hold their balances in RLUSD. Furthermore, Ripple’s partnership with the Bank of New York Mellon, which serves as the primary reserve custodian for RLUSD, underscores the stablecoin’s robust regulatory compliance.
Ripple highlighted that RLUSD’s growing recognition in the institutional space, backed by a strong reputation for stability and governance, makes it an attractive option for financial institutions. Bluechip recently rated RLUSD as the top stablecoin, earning an ‘A’ for asset backing and governance.
