Clients using Ripple Prime can now dive into spot trading with a wide selection of cryptocurrencies. This shift marks a new chapter for Ripple’s institutional offering, which previously focused on over-the-counter services and derivatives. Now, Ripple Prime is stepping out from the background and into the main arena of live crypto markets.
From Contracts to Coins
What makes this update significant is that institutions no longer need to rely on contracts or swaps to gain exposure to crypto. They can now buy and sell the actual coins themselves. Before this move, most prime brokers catered to derivatives and structured products.
Brian Quintenz is the right person for the complex derivatives markets the CFTC oversees. For crypto, he is uniquely positioned to deliver on a new area of agency responsibility. I’m proud to have worked with him on issues and to call him a friend. It’s time to confirm BQ. https://t.co/umqOorK4tm
— Greg Xethalis (@xethalis) August 20, 2025
Ripple Prime offers spot access, meaning fewer middle steps and more direct ownership. That’s a big deal for institutions that have been cautious about diving into crypto due to unclear systems or security gaps.
A Big Buyout with Bigger Plans
This evolution stems from Ripple’s acquisition of Hidden Road, a move that cost $1.25 billion. Hidden Road wasn’t small either. It was already generating approximately $3 trillion per year for institutional clients, with services spanning from forex to futures. Now that Ripple has integrated it under the Ripple Prime brand, it’s rolling out a broader toolkit. Spot trading is the latest piece of that puzzle, giving clients a one-stop solution for both crypto and traditional assets.
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Eyes on Wall Street
This new access point could attract hedge funds, trading desks and large institutions that have been circling crypto without diving in. Some may have held back due to poor infrastructure or unreliable trade execution. If Ripple Prime can prove it handles both traditional and crypto markets with the same consistency, it might start pulling in serious volume. That kind of momentum could push other platforms to step up or risk falling behind.
What to Watch Going Forward
There are still some details that need close attention. Custody and settlement processes will be critical, especially for institutions that demand clean and secure operations. Traders will also want to know which assets are supported and how competitive Ripple Prime’s pricing will be.
Speed and reliability will make or break the rollout. And as always, regulation looms in the background. Any movement from lawmakers could affect how this service scales.
Bridging Two Financial Worlds
This launch points to something larger. The wall separating crypto and traditional finance is getting lower. When a single platform can offer both spot crypto trading and prime brokerage services, the transition into digital assets becomes less complicated for institutions. That could bring more capital into the market, drive deeper liquidity, and slowly push crypto toward greater maturity.
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The Bigger Picture
By letting its clients trade spot crypto directly, Ripple Prime is pushing the space forward. It shows how far crypto infrastructure has come and hints that big players no longer want to be locked into only derivatives. This change could reshape expectations across the industry and influence how other financial institutions approach crypto access in the future.
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Key Takeaways
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Ripple Prime has expanded beyond over-the-counter and derivatives trading, now offering direct spot crypto trading for institutional clients. -
Institutions can buy and sell actual cryptocurrencies through Ripple Prime, eliminating the need for swaps or synthetic exposure. -
The move follows Ripple’s $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, a major clearing firm handling $3 trillion annually across multiple asset classes. -
This expansion could attract hedge funds and large institutions seeking reliable, regulated access to both crypto and traditional markets under one roof. -
Ripple Prime’s success will depend on strong custody systems, transparent pricing, and regulatory clarity as it bridges crypto with Wall Street.
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