Ripple Acquires FINRA-Approved Broker for $1.25B — Is XRP Price Set for a 10x Institutional Boom?

Ripple’s latest acquisition, Hidden Road, just locked in FINRA registration, giving Ripple a regulatory green light to expand deeper into traditional finance. The move follows Ripple’s $1.25 billion purchase of the prime broking firm, adding serious firepower to Ripple’s growing institutional footprint. As the company emerges from legal battles and rides a more favourable U.S. regulatory wave, Hidden Road’s new broker-dealer status could start a much larger push into global finance and a significant moment for the XRP price.

Hidden Road’s Role in Ripple’s Next Chapter 

Hidden Road’s FINRA registration gives Ripple something it has long been working toward: direct access to regulated financial markets. As a licensed broker-dealer, Hidden Road can now expand its fixed-income services, offer compliant clearing, and handle financing for institutional clients, all within a regulated framework. That’s a big deal for Ripple, especially as it positions XRP and the broader XRP Ledger as a bridge between crypto and traditional finance. Before the acquisition, Hidden Road had already cleared billions in daily transactions and served hundreds of institutional clients. 

Under Ripple’s umbrella, its scale and influence are expected to grow fast. Ripple CTO David Schwartz called it a turning point for the XRP Ledger, one that extends its use case far beyond cross-border payments. In recent XRP news, analysts have highlighted this acquisition as a strategic shift, moving Ripple closer to traditional market infrastructure dominance. CEO Brad Garlinghouse says the goal is clear: to build the largest non-bank prime broking in the world. If this vision prevails, Ripple could become a major financial infrastructure player, not just in cryptocurrency but everywhere in banking. Let’s check the XRP price forecast to see how this growth affects XRP’s price.

XRP Price Prediction for April 18, 2025

The XRP/USDT 1-hour chart reveals price consolidating near the $2.05 level, which coincides with a key support zone. The asset previously faced resistance near $2.25 and has pulled back steadily. Multiple support levels below ($1.95 and $1.65) provide additional safety nets should a breakdown occur. The RSI is at 41.43, leaning towards bearish momentum but not yet oversold. This suggests there’s room for further downside but also potential for a rebound if buyers step in. 

Chart 1: Analysed by vallijat007, published on TradingView, April 18, 2025

Previous RSI patterns show that the XRP price has reversed near this zone before. MACD is currently flat, with the MACD line slightly below the signal line, reflecting weak momentum and indecision. A prior death cross still shadows sentiment, and the histogram bars remain neutral, signalling a lack of strong trend. If the $2.05 support holds, XRP could rebound toward the $2.15–$2.25 range. However, a breakdown below support may invite selling pressure toward $1.95. Traders should await clearer signals from RSI and MACD for directional bias.

Ripple’s Institutional Pivot Is Just Getting Started

With Hidden Road now FINRA-licensed, Ripple isn’t just talking about institutional expansion; it’s executing. This move gives Ripple regulated market access and a direct line to Wall Street infrastructure. For XRP, it means more than price action; it’s about relevance in a shifting financial system. As Ripple builds out its broking ambitions, this could begin a broader transformation, from a crypto company to a full-stack financial powerhouse. The playbook is clear: regulation, access, and scale. Now it’s about delivery. Upcoming XRP news regarding additional licensing or institutional partnerships will likely play a key role in shaping investor sentiment.