Ripple, a prominent player in crypto payments, is acquiring the brokerage firm Hidden Road for $1.25 billion in one of the largest mergers in the crypto sector. This acquisition marks a significant milestone for Ripple as it continues to grow and expand its reach in the financial industry.

The deal is the second major billion-dollar-plus transaction in the past month. The recent re-election of President Donald Trump has helped revitalize the crypto market, with many anticipating more relaxed regulations moving forward.

Just last month, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) dropped a legal case against Ripple that had accused the company of conducting an illegal securities offering. This decision has created a more favorable environment for crypto businesses in the U.S.

Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, commented on the acquisition: “We are at a turning point for digital asset adoption. The U.S. market is now open in a way it hasn’t been before, thanks to the end of the regulatory uncertainty under the former SEC. The market is evolving to meet the needs of traditional finance.”

Hidden Road, which clears over $3 trillion annually across various markets, serves more than 300 top institutional clients, including hedge funds. This acquisition strengthens Ripple’s position in the financial sector and enhances its service offerings to institutional clients.

Crypto Industry Momentum

This deal continues a wave of momentum in the crypto space, despite some challenges posed by current global tariff issues. Recently, cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced its $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader, a retail futures trading platform.

Additionally, stablecoin issuer Circle and trading platform eToro, which deals in stocks, crypto, and other assets, both recently filed for initial public offerings (IPOs). However, the current market volatility could impact these plans.

In Q1, venture funding for crypto and blockchain startups surged to $3.8 billion across 220 deals, a 138% increase compared to the previous quarter. However, the figures were heavily influenced by a $2 billion investment into Binance from Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX — the largest investment into a crypto company to date.