The deal broadens Ripple's services, including clearing, prime brokerage, and financing across markets.
RLUSD is positioned as the first stablecoin for cross-margining between digital and traditional markets.
Michael Higgins, the International CEO of Hidden Road during FMLS:24 panel
Ripple has announced its acquisition of Hidden Road for
$1.25 billion, marking one of the largest deals in the digital assets sector.
This acquisition makes Ripple the first crypto company to own and operate a
global, multi-asset prime broker.
Hidden Road, a rapidly growing prime broker,
provides services including clearing, prime brokerage, and financing across
foreign exchange, digital assets, derivatives, swaps, and fixed income.
Ripple Acquisition Supports Institutional Adoption of
Crypto
Brad Garlinghouse, CEO, Ripple, Source: LinkedIn
“We are at an inflection point for the next phase of
digital asset adoption—the US market is effectively open for the first time
due to the regulatory overhang of the former SEC coming to an end, and the
market is maturing to address the needs of traditional finance,” said Brad
Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple.
The acquisition aims to support the next phase of growth in
the crypto industry by providing the infrastructure necessary for institutional
adoption. Prime brokers are seen as essential for bringing credibility and
professional trading services to digital assets, helping to bridge the gap
between traditional finance and decentralized finance.
“With these tailwinds, we are continuing to
pursue opportunities to massively transform the space, leveraging our position
and the strengths of XRP to accelerate our business and enhance our current
solutions and technology,” Garlinghouse added.
Ripple Enhances Infrastructure with Hidden Road
Acquisition
“With new resources, licenses, and added risk capital,
this deal will unlock significant growth in Hidden Road's business, allowing us
to increase capacity to our customer base, expand into new products, and
service more markets and asset classes,” said Marc Asch, Founder and CEO
of Hidden Road.
This acquisition reinforces Ripple USD's (RLUSD) position as
a USD-backed stablecoin, as Hidden Road uses it as collateral across its prime
brokerage products. RLUSD will be the first stablecoin to enable
cross-margining between digital assets and traditional markets.
Hidden Road will migrate its post-trade activity to XRPL to
streamline operations and reduce costs, highlighting XRPL's potential for
institutional decentralized finance (DeFi). Ripple aims to optimize costs and
liquidity in Ripple Payments and provide custody services for Hidden Road's
customers needing bank-grade digital asset custody.
“Together with Ripple, we're bringing the same level of
trust and reliability that institutional clients are accustomed to in
traditional markets—designed and optimized for a digital world,” Asch
added.
Higgins highlighted the firm’s recent achievement of
securing a license under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation in
the Netherlands, positioning it as one of the few approved entities under the
comprehensive European crypto-asset regulation.
He also addressed the balance between traditional finance
regulations and the growing crypto market, emphasizing the need for clear,
tailored regulations to encourage institutional involvement in the sector.
Ripple's Strategic Moves: Partnerships, Regulation, and
Investor Interest
Ripple has gained attention due to recent developments.
Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, discussed
the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in US strategic reserves following
President Trump’s executive order, which listed Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana,
and Cardano. Saylor suggested that XRP should be regulated.
In South Korea, BDACS
will use Ripple Custody to secure XRP and RLUSD, while Ripple donated
$100,000 in XRP for California wildfire relief. Ripple expects Japanese banks
to adopt XRP Ledger by 2025 for cross-border payments. In DeFi, Ripple partners
with Chainlink to integrate RLUSD into Ethereum platforms.
Ripple has announced its acquisition of Hidden Road for
$1.25 billion, marking one of the largest deals in the digital assets sector.
This acquisition makes Ripple the first crypto company to own and operate a
global, multi-asset prime broker.
Hidden Road, a rapidly growing prime broker,
provides services including clearing, prime brokerage, and financing across
foreign exchange, digital assets, derivatives, swaps, and fixed income.
Ripple Acquisition Supports Institutional Adoption of
Crypto
Brad Garlinghouse, CEO, Ripple, Source: LinkedIn
“We are at an inflection point for the next phase of
digital asset adoption—the US market is effectively open for the first time
due to the regulatory overhang of the former SEC coming to an end, and the
market is maturing to address the needs of traditional finance,” said Brad
Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple.
The acquisition aims to support the next phase of growth in
the crypto industry by providing the infrastructure necessary for institutional
adoption. Prime brokers are seen as essential for bringing credibility and
professional trading services to digital assets, helping to bridge the gap
between traditional finance and decentralized finance.
“With these tailwinds, we are continuing to
pursue opportunities to massively transform the space, leveraging our position
and the strengths of XRP to accelerate our business and enhance our current
solutions and technology,” Garlinghouse added.
Ripple Enhances Infrastructure with Hidden Road
Acquisition
“With new resources, licenses, and added risk capital,
this deal will unlock significant growth in Hidden Road's business, allowing us
to increase capacity to our customer base, expand into new products, and
service more markets and asset classes,” said Marc Asch, Founder and CEO
of Hidden Road.
This acquisition reinforces Ripple USD's (RLUSD) position as
a USD-backed stablecoin, as Hidden Road uses it as collateral across its prime
brokerage products. RLUSD will be the first stablecoin to enable
cross-margining between digital assets and traditional markets.
Hidden Road will migrate its post-trade activity to XRPL to
streamline operations and reduce costs, highlighting XRPL's potential for
institutional decentralized finance (DeFi). Ripple aims to optimize costs and
liquidity in Ripple Payments and provide custody services for Hidden Road's
customers needing bank-grade digital asset custody.
“Together with Ripple, we're bringing the same level of
trust and reliability that institutional clients are accustomed to in
traditional markets—designed and optimized for a digital world,” Asch
added.
Higgins highlighted the firm’s recent achievement of
securing a license under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation in
the Netherlands, positioning it as one of the few approved entities under the
comprehensive European crypto-asset regulation.
He also addressed the balance between traditional finance
regulations and the growing crypto market, emphasizing the need for clear,
tailored regulations to encourage institutional involvement in the sector.
Ripple's Strategic Moves: Partnerships, Regulation, and
Investor Interest
Ripple has gained attention due to recent developments.
Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, discussed
the inclusion of cryptocurrencies in US strategic reserves following
President Trump’s executive order, which listed Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana,
and Cardano. Saylor suggested that XRP should be regulated.
In South Korea, BDACS
will use Ripple Custody to secure XRP and RLUSD, while Ripple donated
$100,000 in XRP for California wildfire relief. Ripple expects Japanese banks
to adopt XRP Ledger by 2025 for cross-border payments. In DeFi, Ripple partners
with Chainlink to integrate RLUSD into Ethereum platforms.
Kraken Challenges Wall Street’s 9-to-5 Model with 24/7 Tokenized Stock Trading
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
Marketing in 2026 Audiences, Costs, and Smarter AI
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As brokers eye B2B business and compete with fintechs and crypto exchanges alike, marketers need to act wisely with often limited budgets. AI can offer scalable solutions, but only if used properly.
Join seasoned marketing executives and specialists as they discuss the main challenges they identify in financial services in 2026 and how they address them.
Attendees of this session will walk away with:
- A nuts-and-bolts account of acquisition costs across platforms and geos
- Analysis of today’s multi-layered audience segments and differences in behaviour
- First-hand account of how global brokers balance consistency and local flavour
- Notes from the field about intelligently using AI and automation in marketing
Speakers:
-Yam Yehoshua, Editor-In-Chief at Finance Magnates
-Federico Paderni, Managing Director for Growth Markets in Europe at X
-Jo Benton, Chief Marketing Officer, Consulting | Fractional CMO
-Itai Levitan, Head of Strategy at investingLive
-Roberto Napolitano, CMO at Innovate Finance
-Tony Cross, Director at Monk Communications
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #FintechMarketing #AI #DigitalStrategy #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Much like their traders in the market, brokers must diversify to manage risk and stay resilient. But that can get costly, clunky, and lengthy.
This candid panel brings together builders across the trading infrastructure space to uncover the shifting dynamics behind tools, interfaces, and full-stack ambitions.
Attendees will hear:
-Why platform dependency has become one of the most overlooked risks in the trading business?
-Buy vs. build: What do hybrid models look like, and why are industry graveyards filled with failed ‘killer apps’?
-How AI is already changing execution, risk, and reporting—and what’s next?
-Which features, assets, and tools gain the most traction, and where brokers should look for tech-driven retention?
Speakers:
-Stephen Miles, Chief Revenue Officer at FYNXT
-John Morris, Co-Founder at FXBlue
-Matthew Smith, Group Chair & CEO at EC Markets
-Tom Higgins, Founder & CEO at Gold-i
-Gil Ben Hur, Founder at 5% Group
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #Trading #Fintech #FintechInnovation #TradingTechnology #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
Educators, IBs, And Other Regional Growth Drivers
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
When acquisition costs rise and AI generated reviews are exactly as useful as they sound, performing and fair partners can make or break brokers.
This session looks at how these players are shaping access, trust and user engagement, and what the most effective partnership models look like in 2025.
Key Themes:
- Building trader communities through education and local expertise
- Aligning broker incentives with long-term regional strategies
- Regional regulation and the realities of compliant acquisition
- What’s next for performance-driven partnerships in online trading
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Zander Van Der Merwe, Key Individual & Head of Sales at TD Markets
-Brunno Huertas, Regional Manager – Latin America at Tickmill
-Paul Chalmers, CEO at UK Trading Academy
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #BrokerGrowth #FintechPartnerships #RegionalMarkets
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
The Leap to Everything App: Are Brokers There Yet?
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the arms race to bundle investing, personal finance, and wallets under super apps grows fiercer, brokers are caught between a rock and a hard place.
This session explores unexpected ways for industry players to collaborate as consumer habits evolve, competitors eye the traffic, and regulation becomes more nuanced.
Speakers:
-Laura McCracken,CEO | Advisory Board Member at Blackheath Advisors | The Payments Association
-Slobodan Manojlović,Vice President | Lead Software Engineer at JP Morgan Chase & Co.
-Jordan Sinclair, President at Robinhood UK
-Simon Pelletier, Head of Product at Yuh
Gerald Perez, CEO at Interactive Brokers UK
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #Innovation
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
Mind The Gap: Can Retail Investors Save the UK Stock Market?
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
As the dire state of listing and investment in the UK goes from a financial services problem to a national challenge, the retail investing industry is taken to task.
Join a host of executives and experts for a candid conversation about the future of millions of Brits, as seen from a financial services standpoint:
-Are they happy with the Leeds Reform, in principle and in practice?
-Is it the government’s job to affect the ‘saver’ mentality? Is it doing well?
-What can brokers and fintechs do to spur UK investment?
-How can the FCA balance greater flexibility with consumer protection?
Speakers:
-Adam Button, Chief Currency Analyst at investingLive
-Nicola Higgs, Partner at Latham & Watkins
-Dan Lane, Investment Content Lead at Robinhood UK
-Jack Crone, PR & Public Affairs Lead at IG
-David Belle, Founder at Fink Money
#fmls #fmls25 #fmevents #Brokers #FinanceLeadership #Trading #Fintech #RetailInvesting #UKFinance
Connect with us at:
🔗 LinkedIn: / financemagnates-events
👍 Facebook: / financemagnatesevents
📸 Instagram: / fmevents_official
🐦 Twitter: / f_m_events
🎥 TikTok: / fmevents_official
