365Crypto
Ripple’s latest acquisition is already making waves. Hidden Road, now under Ripple’s wing, just launched a prime brokerage service for crypto swaps—targeted straight at U.S. institutions.
For the uninitiated: OTC (over-the-counter) swaps are private, custom deals between parties, often used to bet on or hedge the price of crypto. These swaps are “cash-settled,” meaning no crypto actually changes hands—just dollars.
The launch lets U.S. institutions trade swaps on top crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, all cleared through Hidden Road’s UK-based, FCA-regulated branch.
More Than Just Trading
Besides swaps execution, Hidden Road is offering cross-margining and financing. Translation? Institutions can manage their risk across multiple trades and borrow against their holdings—very Wall Street.
Michael Higgins, the firm’s international CEO, says the U.S. has been craving this. “OTC swaps dominate global crypto trading, but American firms were left out. Until now.”
Ripple Muscle + Wall Street Demand
In case you missed it, Ripple bought Hidden Road for $1.25 billion last month. That deal wasn’t just a flex—it’s now powering this U.S. push.
Ripple’s resources will help Hidden Road meet insane demand. According to Higgins, they’ve got “20x more demand for balance sheet than supply.” Not exactly a quiet debut.
A Shake-Up in Prime Brokerage
Prime brokerage is heating up in crypto. These are the firms that handle big-money trades for hedge funds and institutions, minus the drama. Hidden Road’s tech-first, conflict-free model skips the baggage of legacy banks.
With traditional brokers still stuck in the fiat slow lane, firms like Hidden Road are giving institutions a fast pass into digital assets—now with Ripple behind the wheel.
