tl;dr
Ripple expands its financial tech dominance by acquiring Hidden Road, launching Ripple Prime—a global multi-asset prime brokerage platform. The move integrates institutional trading, stablecoins, and partnerships with legacy banks like BNY Mellon, signaling a bold push to bridge traditional finance ...
**Ripple Acquires Hidden Road to Launch Ripple Prime, Cementing Its Position as a Global Crypto Powerhouse**
Ripple has taken a bold step in expanding its footprint in the financial technology sector by acquiring the non-bank prime broker Hidden Road, rebranding it as **Ripple Prime**. This move positions Ripple as the first cryptocurrency company to establish a global, multi-asset prime brokerage platform, signaling its ambition to compete with traditional financial institutions.
Ripple Prime is designed to offer institutional clients a unified solution for seamless clearing, financing, and trading across multiple asset classes, including foreign exchange (FX), digital assets, derivatives, swaps, and fixed income. By consolidating these services under one platform, Ripple aims to streamline operations for institutions seeking to navigate the complexities of modern financial markets.
Since Ripple first announced the acquisition earlier this year, the business has seen remarkable growth, with the platform’s operations tripling in scale. This rapid expansion underscores the demand for integrated financial solutions in an increasingly interconnected market.
A key focus of Ripple Prime is its integration of the company’s stablecoin, **RLUSD**, which will serve as collateral for prime brokerage products. This move is expected to enhance liquidity and stability for institutional users. Additionally, **BNY Mellon** has been positioned as the primary reserve custodian for RLUSD, leveraging the bank’s expertise in asset management and custody services.
The acquisition of Hidden Road marks Ripple’s **fifth major purchase in two years**, reflecting a strategic push to consolidate capabilities across the financial ecosystem. Recent acquisitions include:
- **GTreasury** (treasury management solutions, last week)
- **Rail** (a $200 million stablecoin payments platform, August 2025)
- **Standard Custody** (digital asset custody, June 2024)
- **Metaco** (crypto infrastructure, May 2023)
These acquisitions highlight Ripple’s commitment to building a comprehensive infrastructure for institutional-grade crypto services. By combining its own technologies with those of acquired firms, Ripple is positioning itself as a central player in the evolving landscape of digital finance.
As the crypto industry continues to mature, Ripple’s expansion through Ripple Prime and its strategic acquisitions suggest a long-term vision to bridge traditional finance with blockchain innovation. With BNY Mellon’s involvement and the integration of RLUSD, the company is not only reinforcing its technological edge but also aligning itself with the trust and scale of legacy financial institutions.
This latest move solidifies Ripple’s role as a leader in the crypto space, setting a precedent for how digital assets can be integrated into the broader financial system.