Ripple’s New Brokerage: Making Crypto and Finance a Match Made in Heaven

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Well, well, well, it seems Ripple has decided to add a little more flair to their already glitzy portfolio. The fintech company-known for their love affair with all things crypto-has just launched a shiny new digital asset spot prime brokerage for the good ol’ U.S. of A. Yes, you heard that right. After snapping up the multi-asset prime broker, Hidden Road (for a casual $1.25 billion, no less), Ripple is now gracing the States with Ripple Prime. Isn’t that just the most adorable name?

And, as if that wasn’t enough to make your crypto-loving heart skip a beat, Ripple took to X (formerly Twitter) to share that this new service will allow clients to indulge in over-the-counter (OTC) spot transactions across a dazzling array of digital assets and stablecoins. That includes the ever-popular $XRP and, let’s not forget, the newly beloved $RLUSD. Because why wouldn’t you want to trade those over-the-counter, like some financial connoisseur enjoying a fine bottle of vintage wine?

“Ripple Prime breaks ground in the US today with the launch of digital asset spot prime brokerage capabilities – allowing clients to execute OTC spot transactions across the most prominent digital assets and stablecoins, including $XRP and $RLUSD.”
– Ripple (@Ripple) November 3, 2025

Ripple Business Grows Faster Than Your Wi-Fi Speed

Oh, and did we mention Ripple’s business has grown by a cool 3X since the acquisition? Yes, that’s right-three times. With new customers flocking in and existing clients discovering all the shiny new toys they can play with, things are looking positively rosy over at Ripple Prime.

This new venture opens the floodgates to an exciting range of trading services for U.S. institutions. So, if you’re wondering how to juggle your FX, derivatives, swaps, fixed income, and digital assets in one seamless package-well, Ripple’s got you covered. And let’s not forget, U.S. clients can now cross-margin their OTC spot transactions with the rest of their digital asset portfolio. Because who doesn’t love a good margin call?

Michael Higgins, Ripple Prime’s International CEO, ever the optimist, chirped: “The launch of OTC spot execution capabilities complements our existing suite of OTC and cleared derivatives services in digital assets, positioning us to offer U.S. institutions a comprehensive selection that suits their trading strategies. How lovely!”

The $1.25 Billion “Who Needs a Bank?” Acquisition

Let’s talk about Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road. A mere $1.25 billion purchase. Just pocket change, really. Ripple was rather chuffed to announce in April 2025 that it would be acquiring the multi-asset prime brokerage firm, giving them full ownership of a global prime broker. This was their big “look at us, we’re serious” moment. And what a way to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the digital asset world. Hidden Road’s platform, serving over 300 financial institutions, is now Ripple’s playground. Talk about synergy!

In May 2025, Hidden Road made waves by launching a crypto trading service for U.S. institutional investors. They were letting their U.S. clients trade OTC cash-settled crypto swaps. Very exclusive. Ripple wasted no time in integrating this, planning to bring Hidden Road’s post-trade operations onto the XRPL-Ripple’s own blockchain-to make everything faster, sleeker, and less prone to the typical financial headaches. Oh, and did we mention Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, will now be used as collateral? Because, you know, it’s very good for business.

The grand result? The very first 24/7 cross-margining between crypto and traditional finance products, all supported by a USD-backed stablecoin. The future is here, my friends-and it’s all about capital efficiency and seamless access for institutional investors worldwide. How absolutely thrilling!

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2025-11-03 20:06