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Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has reaffirmed that XRP remains at the heart of Ripple’s vision for the future of institutional digital finance. His latest statement comes as Ripple expands its global footprint through a wave of strategic acquisitions, advancing liquidity solutions, and starting new custody and brokerage services.
Garlinghouse made the remarks on October 24 via social media platform X, underscoring that XRP continues to power Ripple’s mission of enabling a borderless “Internet of Value.”
“With today’s close of Hidden Road (now Ripple Prime), Ripple has announced 5 major acquisitions in ~2 years (GTreasury last week, Rail in August, Standard Custody in 2024, Metaco in 2023). As we continue to build solutions toward enabling an Internet of Value, I’m reminding you all that XRP sits at the center of everything Ripple does. Lock in.”
Ripple’s Strategic Expansion Around XRP
Ripple’s aggressive growth strategy has centered on acquisitions that expand its institutional capabilities. The rebranded Ripple Prime—formerly Hidden Road—is designed to serve as a prime brokerage platform offering multi-asset digital trading and custody solutions to institutional clients.
The company’s other acquisitions, including GTreasury, Rail, Standard Custody, and Metaco, collectively reinforce Ripple’s infrastructure in global payments, liquidity management, and blockchain custody. This rapid consolidation reflects Ripple’s ambition to bridge traditional financial systems with blockchain-powered efficiency—anchored by XRP.
XRP and RLUSD: The Dual Pillars of Ripple’s Ecosystem
Monica Long, Ripple’s president, also commented on the announcement, emphasizing the growing integration between XRP and Ripple’s stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD).
“The opportunities now available to Ripple Prime are expansive,” Long said. “With RLUSD already being used as collateral for a number of prime brokerage products, and Ripple Prime looking at various ways to utilize XRP, the future ahead is mighty bright.”
This approach aligns with Ripple’s long-term goal to build a full-service liquidity and payments network where XRP and RLUSD work in tandem. While XRP enables instant, cross-border settlement, RLUSD provides a stable unit of exchange for institutional applications—together strengthening Ripple’s infrastructure for tokenized finance.
Institutional Demand for XRP Continues to Rise
Recent data shows that XRP’s influence across institutional markets is deepening. The Grayscale CoinDesk Crypto 5 ETF (GDLC), listed on NYSE Arca, now includes XRP among its top holdings. Additionally, the REX-Osprey Spot XRP ETF (ticker: XRPR) has surpassed $100 million in assets under management, highlighting growing institutional confidence in the asset.
CME Group’s XRP futures market has also reported impressive performance, recording approximately $26.9 billion in notional volume, equivalent to around 9 billion XRP traded. These developments suggest XRP’s liquidity profile is strengthening as institutional adoption expands.
Ripple’s ecosystem growth is further supported by Evernorth, a Ripple-backed financial infrastructure firm that plans to go public on Nasdaq in early 2026. The move is expected to broaden XRP’s market exposure and reinforce Ripple’s leadership in digital finance.
XRP as the Core of Ripple’s Future
Garlinghouse’s statement that “XRP sits at the center of everything Ripple does” reaffirms the company’s long-term commitment to the asset despite market fluctuations and regulatory challenges. XRP continues to function as the primary bridge asset across Ripple’s payment and liquidity platforms, enabling near-instant transfers of value across fiat and digital systems.
Industry observers note that Ripple’s integrated approach—combining custody, payments, and stablecoin infrastructure—represents a maturing phase of blockchain adoption within finance. By aligning its products around XRP, Ripple is positioning the token as the backbone of institutional digital settlements and cross-border value flows.
A Broader Vision for the Internet of Value
Ripple’s mission remains centered on building a global financial network where money moves as freely as information. With its ongoing acquisitions and expansion into custody, liquidity, and tokenized assets, Ripple is strengthening its foundation to realize this vision.
As Ripple transitions Hidden Road into Ripple Prime and continues to scale its institutional offerings, both XRP and RLUSD appear poised to play critical roles in shaping a more connected and efficient global economy.
