Ripple Acquires Hidden Road for $1.25B to Boost XRP Utility and Accelerate XRPL Adoption

Joe M Avatar
  • Ripple’s $1.25B acquisition of prime broker Hidden Road could funnel billions in daily transactions onto the XRP Ledger, showcasing its real-world utility.
  • This move positions XRP for major institutional adoption and faster, more efficient global finance.

Ripple’s recent $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road has sparked excitement across the crypto community — and with good reason. According to Ripple CTO David Schwartz, the move could be a game-changer for both XRP and the XRP Ledger (XRPL), bringing the token one step closer to mass institutional adoption.

Also read: Ripple Launches Major Advertising Campaign to Boost XRP Adoption Globally

Popular crypto influencer @_Crypto_Barbie (Amelie) spotlighted Schwartz’s remarks, highlighting that Hidden Road, a global prime broker, clears over $10 billion daily and processes more than 50 million transactions — all through outdated systems that can take up to 24 hours to settle. Ripple’s integration of this infrastructure with XRPL could revolutionize how those transactions are processed.

“This is the kind of volume XRPL was built for,” Schwartz suggested. And that message resonated. XRPL is known for near-instant settlement, low transaction fees, and scalability — precisely the kind of efficiency traditional finance lacks.

By acquiring Hidden Road, Ripple becomes the first crypto company to own and operate a fully functional, multi-asset prime broker. This positions the company to funnel a portion of that immense transaction flow through XRPL, unlocking a wave of new utility for XRP.

The potential ripple effect? Huge. XRP could see a surge in demand as it serves as a bridge asset for high-frequency institutional settlements. Even partial adoption of XRPL for Hidden Road’s volume could significantly boost transaction throughput and elevate XRP’s real-world value.

Crypto analysts are already forecasting major growth, with some predicting triple-digit targets for XRP if institutional traction continues. But beyond price speculation, this acquisition signals something bigger: Ripple’s strategic intent to move out of crypto’s niche and into the heart of global finance.

In short, Ripple isn’t just making headlines — it’s laying the foundation for the future of blockchain-based finance. And if this bet pays off, the XRP Ledger could soon be the backbone of a new, faster, and more efficient financial system.