Blockchain technology firm Ripple has rolled out a digital asset spot brokerage service that can be used by institutional investors in the U.S., as per an official press release.
The update comes after the company’s set of growth initiatives, such as its backing of investment vehicle Evernorth, which is planning its own merger on the Nasdaq—and its acquisition of Hidden Road, a prime brokerage, clearing, and financing firm, which has given Ripple the capabilities for this launch, a service that is now managed under Ripple Prime.
Ripple Prime CEO Michael Higgins said the launch complements its existing suite of OTC and cleared derivative services.
With the new feature, institutional investors in the U.S. will be able to use OTC trading services for a wide range of digital assets, which will also include the XRP token and the RLUSD stablecoin.
In recent years, Ripple has had its share of legal troubles, which started in 2020, when the SEC filed a complaint against the firm saying it was conducting an unregistered securities offering through its XRP token. This sparked a years-long lawsuit, which was finally settled in 2025, after both parties agreed to reach a settlement.
Principal consultant Lavneet Bansal, who has been monitoring the situation for months, said. “Ripple is quietly shifting from a blockchain company to a regulated financial institution. With the acquisition of Hidden Road, it now has the licenses and infrastructure to offer prime brokerage, clearing, and financing, connecting crypto, FX, and traditional assets under one platform,”
He also added, “This marks a move from payments and remittances to full-scale institutional settlement and trading. By combining RLUSD (its stablecoin), Ripple Prime, and RippleNet, Ripple is building a closed-loop ecosystem for regulated digital asset finance.”