By Key Points
- Ripple acquires Hidden Road in a $1.25B deal to scale XRPL use
- $10B in daily volume may start flowing through XRP Ledger
- RLUSD stablecoin integrated for institutional cross-margining
- Retail addresses holding XRP hit an all-time high of 6.2 million
On April 8, Ripple acquired Hidden Road—a global prime brokerage platform handling over $10 billion in daily transactions—for a staggering $1.25 billion. This acquisition signals a major leap forward for Ripple’s vision of creating the “Internet of Value,” and more importantly, it could drive a sharp increase in XRP demand.
What makes this deal stand out isn’t just the dollar amount—it’s the strategic integration of Hidden Road’s transaction volume into Ripple’s ecosystem. Industry experts are buzzing about what this means for XRP and RLUSD, Ripple’s newly launched stablecoin.
Jake Claver, Managing Director of Digital Ascension Group, broke it down on X (formerly Twitter). He pointed out that Hidden Road’s operations now transitioning to the XRP Ledger (XRPL) brings institutional-grade liquidity into the network. According to Claver:
What happens when just a fraction of that $10B daily volume starts settling through XRP? Demand skyrockets. These aren’t retail traders—these are hedge funds and market makers who need XRP to power their operations. And they’ll be buying lots of it.
3/19🧵— Jake Claver, QFOP (@beyond_broke) April 8, 2025
In essence, Ripple isn’t just increasing usage. It’s plugging XRP into one of the financial world’s busiest pipes.
And this strategy is consistent with how other players in the crypto industry are positioning themselves. Projects like Bittensor’s growing ecosystem are also redefining how infrastructure and utility drive token value.
RLUSD Unlocks Institutional Utility and Reduces Market Friction
Beyond XRP’s potential price jump, there’s another key element: RLUSD.
Ripple’s acquisition includes the integration of its native stablecoin, RLUSD, into Hidden Road’s operations. This isn’t just a stablecoin for everyday users—it’s positioned to be the first collateral asset for cross-margining between traditional and digital markets. That’s a game changer.
i worked at goldman sachs, blackstone and graduated from @Wharton with honors.
i’ve tracked tons of deals in the crypto space.
but @ripple‘s acquisition of hidden road is without a doubt one of the most important deals for crypto.
here’s why:
1/ ripple is now the first… pic.twitter.com/VuEJI2HuBN
— Dom (Bull/ish) | EasyA (@dom_kwok) April 8, 2025
Using RLUSD, institutions can manage risk more effectively while benefiting from the speed and decentralization of XRPL. This dynamic enhances both liquidity and utility, two critical factors for adoption.
Dom Kwok, co-founder of EasyA, called the move “one of the most important deals for crypto,” emphasizing the long-term implications for XRPL and RLUSD adoption.
Nic Puckrin of The Coin Bureau added another key insight: part of this acquisition was funded with XRP. Hidden Road will now migrate its post-trade processes to XRPL, potentially pushing up XRP usage even further.
Despite the positive developments, XRP’s price hasn’t reacted as many might expect. As of writing, XRP is trading at $1.80, down 2.9% over the last 24 hours amid a broader altcoin slump. But many experts believe this price stagnation is temporary—and strategic.
One analyst noted:
Let me be real with you.
XRP’s price isn’t reflecting the bullish news right now, and that’s not a glitch.
It’s a reminder.A reminder that price isn’t the mission. Understanding the tech is. 🧵
Today, Ripple acquired Hidden Road for $1.25B, a major move in global crypto…
— Σcho 𝕏 (@echodatruth) April 8, 2025
His advice to the XRP community? Stay focused. Don’t chase short-term gains—this is about building the future of finance.
That mindset seems to be catching on. Data from Glassnode shows that the number of wallets holding at least 1 XRP has hit a record high of 6.2 million. That’s a strong signal that retail investors see the long game.
Retail Confidence Grows Despite Broader Market Pressures
Interestingly, the surge in XRP interest comes at a time when broader crypto markets face turbulence. Recent macroeconomic uncertainty, such as the possibility of a Fed rate cut, has led to both skepticism and opportunity in digital assets. Yet, XRP’s growing use case is offering a contrast to the fear in the market.
According to analysts, this pattern mirrors how Bitcoin began decoupling from traditional stocks during recent financial stress. While XRP isn’t Bitcoin, the principle remains: adoption drives resilience.
As smaller investors continue to accumulate XRP—often during price dips—they’re likely betting on Ripple’s strategy to build long-term value. And with the integration of RLUSD, the company is taking meaningful steps to create an alternative financial backbone.
XRP Price Performance. Source: Techtoken
This isn’t unlike how other parts of the crypto space are evolving. For instance, the rise of crypto-related investigations by the DOJ shows that institutions are watching—and so is regulation. But Ripple seems to be moving forward regardless, solidifying its infrastructure with calculated moves like the Hidden Road acquisition.
And if this strategy plays out, XRP could eventually become not just a bridge currency, but a vital layer of financial infrastructure—especially as confidence in traditional systems like the US dollar begins to erode.
As more institutions adopt XRPL and RLUSD, and retail continues to hold firm, XRP demand may not just rise—it may explode.
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