Ripple has announced its largest acquisition to date, taking over Hidden Road, a prime broker that operates in various financial markets, for a whopping $1.25 billion. This announcement was made by Monica Long, the President of Ripple, on April 8, 2025, during the Paris Blockchain Week.

This strategic acquisition marks a significant move for Ripple, as Hidden Road is known for providing institutions services that include clearing, prime brokerage, and financing across several asset classes, including foreign exchange, digital assets, and derivatives.

In a statement regarding the acquisition, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, remarked, “We are at an inflection point for the next phase of digital asset adoption… The US market is effectively open for the first time due to the regulatory overhang…”
Translation: We are on the brink of a transformative phase for digital assets, particularly as the US market becomes more receptive.

Long also mentioned that the acquisition paves the way for Ripple to enhance its services and leverage the strengths of the XRP token. She expressed excitement about collaborating with Hidden Road, stating, “The CEO and founder of Hidden Road, Marc Asch, is a visionary… This deal will unlock new growth opportunities.”

Asch commented on the resources and licenses that the acquisition would provide, stating that it would increase Hidden Road’s capability to engage with more markets and asset classes. He emphasized the potential for integrating their services more closely.

Key Takeaways

• The partnership aims to broaden Ripple’s reach in capital markets.
• The acquisition underscores Ripple’s ambition to bridge institutional clients and the digital asset ecosystem at a larger scale.
• Long believes that the current US administration is showing more support for crypto innovation than ever before.