XRP News Today: Ripple's Hidden Road Acquisition: A Compliant Bridge for Banks Into Blockchain

Ripple, the blockchain payment giant, has completed its acquisition of Hidden Road, a move aimed at integrating prime brokerage services into its digital infrastructure. The deal, part of Ripple's broader strategy to bridge traditional finance and blockchain technology, underscores growing institutional interest in regulated digital asset solutions. By leveraging Hidden Road's expertise in custody and compliance, Ripple seeks to offer financial institutions a unified platform for cross-border payments, stablecoin settlements, and asset tokenization, according to Coinpedia.

The acquisition follows Ripple's July 2025 partnership with BNY Mellon to manage its RLUSD stablecoin, a U.S. dollar-pegged digital asset designed for real-time settlements. This collaboration has positioned RLUSD as a key player in the stablecoin sector, with its market capitalization recently surpassing $898 million—a rise that has outpaced tokens like Optimism (OP), according to Coinotag. By combining RLUSD with custody services, Ripple is creating a compliant framework for banks to handle digital assets without exposing themselves to volatility or regulatory uncertainty, per CoinCentral.

Critics, however, remain skeptical. Tom Zschach, Chief Innovation Officer at SWIFT, has questioned Ripple's ability to gain client trust and regulatory approval, arguing that the company lacks the capital and infrastructure to compete with established financial systems. Ripple has pushed back, with crypto lawyer Bill Morgan noting that the company's approach mirrors what traditional banks are already doing—embedding digital assets into their operations. "Ripple is simply accelerating a trend that banks have already embraced," Morgan said, citing Hidden Road's existing client base of 1,000 institutions across 160 countries, as Coinpedia reported.

Ripple's ambitions extend beyond stablecoins. The company has applied for a U.S. national bank charter, a step that would allow it to operate as a fully regulated financial institution. This follows a series of strategic acquisitions, including Rail and Hidden Road, which have expanded Ripple's capabilities in treasury management and compliance. CEO Brad Garlinghouse has emphasized that the goal is to "connect traditional finance with digital assets," a vision that now includes prime brokerage services tailored for institutional clients, according to Coinpedia.

The market appears to be responding. RLUSD's rapid ascent to 74th in global crypto rankings reflects strong institutional adoption, driven by partnerships with firms like DBS and Franklin Templeton. These collaborations enable tokenized asset trading and lending, further cementing Ripple's role in reshaping global banking. With its custody solutions and regulatory alignment, Ripple is positioning itself not just as a blockchain innovator but as a foundational player in the next era of financial infrastructure, as noted by CoinCentral and Coinotag.