XRP News Today: Ripple Establishes Wall Street Connection for Digital Assets as RLUSD Exceeds $1 Billion

Ripple Labs has strengthened its foothold in institutional finance by introducing Ripple Prime, an over-the-counter (OTC) brokerage service for U.S. institutions. This launch comes as its stablecoin RLUSD surpasses a $1 billion market capitalization, as reported by

. These advancements represent a major evolution in the integration of digital assets with traditional finance, offering cross-margining, financing, and OTC trading for leading cryptocurrencies such as and RLUSD .

Ripple Prime, which has been rebranded from the recently acquired multi-asset prime brokerage Hidden Road, delivers a "Wall Street-style" trading environment for institutional clients, supporting digital assets like XRP and RLUSD alongside conventional financial products, according to

. The platform enables clients to carry out large-scale OTC trades with minimal market disruption and offers cross-margining, allowing crypto holdings to be managed together with swaps, futures, and other assets within a single risk management system. This initiative addresses persistent challenges in liquidity and regulatory compliance for institutions entering the crypto space, utilizing Ripple’s established solutions such as Ripple Custody and Ripple Payments .

The launch coincides with a significant achievement for RLUSD: the U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin has exceeded $1 billion in market value, signaling rising interest in compliant and efficient settlement options. RLUSD is fully backed by USD reserves and has become a preferred stablecoin for institutional transactions, with 50 million new tokens recently issued to satisfy demand. Ripple’s broader network, including the XRP Ledger, is designed to boost liquidity and streamline settlements, making RLUSD and XRP foundational to a blended financial ecosystem.

XRP’s function is also transforming. Once mainly used as a bridge for cross-border payments, XRP is now a key asset for institutional trading and financing through Ripple Prime, as outlined in

. Company leaders describe the platform as a "link between traditional trading desks and digital assets," giving clients the ability to manage crypto risks similarly to traditional portfolios. This robust infrastructure helps institutions access digital assets without the volatility and regulatory ambiguity often found on retail crypto exchanges.

Ripple’s approach reflects a larger ambition to combine blockchain’s transparency with established financial systems. By bringing together OTC trading, custody, and payment services, Ripple aims to make digital asset markets as accessible and efficient as those in traditional finance. The acquisition of Hidden Road, completed in October, laid the technical and regulatory groundwork for Ripple Prime, which now operates under compliance standards comparable to those of leading Wall Street institutions.

This development has major implications for institutional finance. With Ripple Prime, organizations can now use XRP and RLUSD for hedging, managing liquidity, and diversifying portfolios, all while staying within U.S. regulatory guidelines. This could drive broader adoption of digital assets among asset managers, hedge funds, and corporate treasuries, especially as regulators and central banks pay closer attention to stablecoin operations.

Nonetheless, some obstacles persist. The long-term utility and value of XRP on the blockchain remain topics of debate, and RLUSD’s continued growth will rely on sustained institutional trust. Ripple’s focus on regulatory compliance and openness will be essential for maintaining credibility, particularly as global regulations continue to evolve.

At present, Ripple’s recent initiatives highlight a maturing crypto sector where institutional investors expect infrastructure that matches the sophistication and reliability of traditional finance. As RLUSD expands and Ripple Prime attracts more users, the boundaries between digital and conventional assets are becoming increasingly indistinct, shaping the next era of global finance.