XRP News Today: Ripple Acquires Hidden Road for $1.25 Billion, Boosts Institutional Crypto Access

Ripple's recent acquisition of London-based brokerage Hidden Road for $1.25 billion has sparked significant interest in the cryptocurrency community, particularly regarding its impact on the XRP price prediction. The acquisition positions Ripple as the first crypto-first company to own and operate a multi-asset prime brokerage, a move that could potentially reshape the landscape for institutional investors in the digital asset space.

Hidden Road's new over-the-counter (OTC) crypto swaps product, announced via a press release, is specifically designed for US-based institutional investors. This product allows for cash-settled swaps involving dozens of major tokens, a feature that has been largely unavailable to US institutions until now. Michael Higgins, International CEO and Global Head of Corporate Development for Hidden Road, highlighted the significance of this development, stating that it represents a substantial portion of digital asset trading volumes globally.

The acquisition of Hidden Road is part of Ripple's broader expansion strategy, which has been facilitated by the gradual resolution of its long-running case with the SEC. While the news of the acquisition did not immediately impact the XRP price, it sets a strong foundation for potential medium- and long-term gains. The XRP price has seen a 4% decline, slipping to $2.20, with the overall cryptocurrency market experiencing a 4.5% drop in the past 24 hours. Despite this recent downturn, XRP has shown a robust 320% increase over the past year, indicating its resilience and potential for future growth.

Analysts suggest that XRP may need to drop slightly further before mounting a sustained recovery. This assessment is based on the token's 30-day average, which has been above the 200-day average since early November, indicating an overbought position. However, the declining 30-day average suggests that a recovery could be imminent. The global economic uncertainty, particularly surrounding US tariffs, poses a challenge in the short term. Nevertheless, the long-term outlook for XRP remains optimistic, with predictions of the token recovering and exceeding former highs, potentially reaching $5 by the end of Q4 and $10 by the end of the year.

XRP is currently one of the most bullish top-ten cryptocurrencies, second only to Bitcoin. As the market returns to more sustained growth in the later months of the year, certain newer altcoins are expected to outpace market averages. One such example is Solaxy (SOLX), a layer-two token that has raised $42.4 million in its presale. Solaxy aims to provide Solana users with lower fees and quicker confirmation times, addressing the delays and dropped transactions that can occur during peak periods. The native token SOLX will be necessary for paying fees and can be staked for passive income, adding to its utility and potential for growth.