Ripple is taking an aggressive step toward reshaping traditional finance, spending nearly $4 billion in 2025 to acquire major financial infrastructure firms. The company’s latest wave of acquisitions, coupled with the launch of Ripple Prime for U.S. institutions, signals a bold strategy to merge blockchain technology with the systems that underpin global banking.
At the Swell 2025 conference in New York, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse outlined a vision where crypto no longer competes with banks but instead operates at the core of their financial networks. His message was clear — Ripple’s future lies in bridging digital assets and traditional finance.
“The assets we have been buying have been on the traditional finance side, so we can bring crypto-enabled solutions to that traditional financial world,” said Garlinghouse.
Ripple’s $4 Billion Expansion Into Traditional Finance
Ripple’s foray into the heart of the financial sector began earlier this year with two high-profile acquisitions:
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Hidden Road, a leading prime brokerage, was purchased for $1.3 billion in April.
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GTreasury, a major treasury management and banking software firm, was acquired for over $1 billion later in the year.
Both deals expand Ripple’s reach into global payment infrastructure, allowing it to directly integrate blockchain-based settlement systems into existing financial networks.
The company’s buying spree doesn’t stop there. In November, Ripple launched Ripple Prime, a brokerage platform designed for U.S. institutional investors seeking over-the-counter (OTC) crypto trading access. Ripple also raised $500 million in fresh funding, pushing its 2025 valuation to roughly $40 billion.
Building a Bridge Between Crypto and Banking
Ripple’s expansion strategy represents a full pivot toward embedding crypto technology within traditional finance — not replacing it. The company aims to position the XRP Ledger (XRPL) as a blockchain foundation for institutions looking to streamline cross-border payments, settlements, and digital asset management.
Garlinghouse emphasized that Ripple’s recent acquisitions weren’t about short-term returns but about creating the infrastructure for long-term institutional adoption. “We want Ripple to invest in the future and get ahead of where the market’s going,” he said.
The XRP Ledger is designed for fast and low-cost transactions, a feature that makes it appealing for banks looking to modernize outdated payment systems. Ripple hopes to license the XRPL to financial institutions, giving them blockchain functionality without requiring them to develop it internally.
Regulatory Shifts Open New Opportunities
Ripple’s renewed push into traditional finance comes at a time when the U.S. regulatory landscape is softening. Under President Donald Trump’s administration, both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have relaxed their previous enforcement-heavy stance on crypto.
This shift has opened the door for major financial institutions to explore blockchain-based products:
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Bank of America and Citigroup are experimenting with stablecoins.
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JPMorgan announced a deposit token project on Coinbase’s Base blockchain in June.
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Institutional investors have poured billions into Bitcoin ETFs since their U.S. debut in early 2024.
Garlinghouse believes this new environment represents a major inflection point. “The United States used to lean out on crypto, and now we’re leaning in — and I think people underestimate how big a shift that is,” he told CNBC.
XRP Adoption Stagnates Despite Ripple’s Growth
Despite Ripple’s institutional momentum, XRP’s price performance has remained largely stagnant in 2025. While Bitcoin surged past $126,000 and Ethereum climbed to $3,900, XRP has struggled to break out of its trading range.
The stagnation is attributed to lingering regulatory uncertainty and the delayed passage of the Clarity Act, a proposed bill that would establish clear guidelines for crypto assets and companies operating in the United States.
“The banks are ready, the technology is ready, but the legal framework isn’t,” Garlinghouse admitted. “Until we have that clarity, it’s going to be hard for institutions to fully lean in.”
This legal limbo has slowed some of Ripple’s larger banking partnerships, even as smaller fintech firms continue adopting XRPL-based solutions.
Ripple’s Institutional Ambition
Ripple’s strategic acquisitions and product rollouts underscore its transformation from a cross-border payments company into a blockchain infrastructure powerhouse. The company’s ultimate goal is to weave XRP-powered systems directly into the existing financial fabric — making it part of the global payment rails that move trillions daily.
By owning companies that already provide liquidity, treasury, and brokerage services to banks, Ripple gains both access and credibility in traditional finance circles. This approach mirrors how legacy financial players like Visa and Mastercard expanded — through acquisitions and integration rather than disruption.
The Ripple Prime Advantage
Ripple Prime, launched just weeks ago, represents the next step in Ripple’s evolution. It provides institutional clients with OTC crypto trading and liquidity services — similar to what Coinbase Prime and Galaxy Digital offer — but with Ripple’s focus on compliance and integration with traditional financial systems.
Analysts say Ripple Prime could become the bridge between institutional crypto demand and real-world banking adoption, particularly as the company builds partnerships with top-tier financial institutions.
The Road Ahead: Waiting for Clarity
For Ripple, the next chapter depends heavily on regulatory progress. While the Clarity Act remains stalled amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, the company continues to position itself for a future where banks and crypto coexist.
Ripple’s acquisitions, product launches, and focus on TradFi integration make it one of the most strategically positioned players in the blockchain industry. If regulatory clarity emerges in 2026, Ripple could be among the first companies to fully capitalize on the institutionalization of digital assets.
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