XRP News Today: Ripple's Prime Brokerage Merges Wall Street and Crypto Markets for Institutions

Ripple has accelerated its custody expansion plans with the launch of Ripple Prime, a digital asset spot prime brokerage for U.S. institutions, marking a significant step in the company's strategy to bridge traditional finance and blockchain markets. The platform enables over-the-counter (OTC) spot trading of major digital assets, including XRP and the stablecoin RLUSD, offering institutional clients access to liquidity and professional-grade settlement mechanisms, according to a TradingView report. This move positions Ripple as a key player in institutional crypto adoption, leveraging its recent acquisition of Hidden Road, a multi-asset prime brokerage firm, to integrate OTC spot, swaps, and derivatives under one system, as reported by Crypto.news.

The rollout of Ripple Prime follows the company's completion of the Hidden Road acquisition in early November 2025, which expanded its capabilities to serve U.S. institutions, as Crypto.news reported. Michael Higgins, International CEO of Ripple Prime, emphasized that the launch complements existing derivatives services and provides a comprehensive trading suite tailored to institutional needs, according to the Crypto.news report. The platform's integration of XRP and RLUSD aims to enhance the utility of these assets, with RLUSD recently surpassing $1 billion in market capitalization across Ethereum and XRP Ledger, a point noted in the TradingView piece.

Ripple's strategic momentum also includes the scheduled unlocking of 1 billion XRP tokens in November 2025, a routine release from escrow contracts established in 2017 to manage token supply transparency, according to a Coinpedia report. Despite concerns over short-term selling pressure, executives argue the move supports liquidity and long-term growth. The company has simultaneously prioritized expanding XRP's real-world use cases, with CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlighting the acquisition of Hidden Road as a catalyst for institutional adoption through regulated settlement systems, as described in a Coinpedia analysis.

Market reactions to these developments have been mixed. XRP's price dipped to $2.40 in early November, reflecting broader crypto market weakness, but some analysts remain bullish. Jake Claver, a crypto commentator, predicts XRP could reach $100 by year-end 2025 and $1,500 by early 2026, citing potential ETF approvals and institutional demand as key drivers, according to Coinpedia. However, skeptics question the feasibility of such targets, noting the token's current market cap of $144.6 billion would need to surge to $6 trillion to achieve the $100 price point, a point highlighted by Benzinga.

Ripple's expansion aligns with broader trends in institutional crypto adoption, as seen in recent deals like Capgemini's acquisition of Ctrl4C Cloud Services and Parkland's integration into Sunoco LP, reported by MarketScreener and PR Newswire, respectively. These moves underscore a sector-wide shift toward infrastructure and custody solutions, with Ripple positioning itself at the intersection of traditional finance and blockchain innovation.