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Why Ripple’s Hidden Road Acquisition Is a Game-Changer for XRP
Ripple has just pulled off one of the most significant and groundbreaking deals in crypto history by acquiring Hidden Road, a prime brokerage giant valued at $1.25 billion. This acquisition marks a major shift in the company’s strategy, transforming XRP from a payment token to potentially becoming the backbone of institutional liquidity flows.
The deal is monumental because it gives Ripple control over Hidden Road’s infrastructure, which clears over $3 trillion in volume every year and services more than 300 top hedge funds, market makers, OTC desks, and trading firms. Moreover, Hidden Road has direct connectivity with major exchanges like Coinbase, Bitfinex, and OKX. With this acquisition, Ripple gains a gateway to integrate XRP directly into institutional trading flows.
Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed that Hidden Road will utilize the XRPL (XRP Ledger) for post-trade settlement on certain transactions. This is a significant development as it enables faster trade finalization without relying on traditional banking systems. Institutions will no longer be forced to wait hours or days for transactions to clear; instead, they can settle instantly using XRPL.
In essence, Ripple is not only enabling faster payments but also positioning XRP as the bridge between crypto and mainstream finance. This move embeds XRP in the heart of global financial operations, making it an essential component for institutions seeking to manage liquidity efficiently.
Despite the excitement around this news, XRP’s price has taken a 3% hit and is currently trading at $1.80. Additionally, it has dropped by 13% over the past week, outperforming the broader crypto market which shed roughly 8%. However, experts believe that this dip could be temporary, as the long-term implications of this acquisition become more apparent.
Analysts are now projecting XRP’s price to reach $5.50 by the end of the year and $12.50 by 2028. With Ripple building the infrastructure and XRP potentially becoming a vital component in global liquidity management, these predictions start to look more feasible.
As one expert succinctly put it, “This is crypto at the adult table.” No other blockchain has achieved this level of integration with traditional finance. If successful, XRP could become the backbone of institutional liquidity management, making it an essential player in the global financial landscape.
Source: https://cryptopotato.com/why-ripples-hidden-road-acquisition-is-a-game-changer-for-xrp/
