Ripple Labs, known for its cryptocurrency XRP, has recently secured $500 million in funding, driving its valuation to approximately $40 billion. This significant financial boost positions the company for ambitious next steps in bridging the gap between the cryptocurrency landscape and traditional financial services.
CEO Brad Garlinghouse outlined the company’s strategy during an interview with CNBC’s “Crypto World” at the Ripple Swell 2025 conference in New York. He emphasized leveraging blockchain technology to improve transaction speed, cost, and overall efficiency. Ripple has engaged in multiple acquisitions and initiatives over the past year to facilitate the integration of blockchain within conventional banking systems.
Garlinghouse highlighted that recent acquisitions have focused on traditional finance assets. This includes the company’s acquisition of the treasury management platform GTreasury for over $1 billion and the brokerage firm Hidden Road for nearly $1.3 billion. The latter evolved into Ripple Prime, a brokerage service that offers investors access to over-the-counter spot trading of digital tokens.
In addition to these acquisitions, Ripple aims to form collaboration agreements that would allow larger financial institutions to use its XRP Ledger technology—a decentralized blockchain designed for fast and low-cost transactions. The increased regulatory clarity surrounding digital assets in the U.S. has fostered a more favorable atmosphere for cryptocurrencies. Notable financial institutions, including Bank of America, Citigroup, and JPMorgan, are now engaging with stablecoins and exploring cryptocurrency custody services and blockchain-based deposit products.
Garlinghouse noted the unique position Ripple is in to build utility around XRP and scale solutions that rely on this cryptocurrency. However, the path towards broader blockchain adoption for traditional financial institutions is fraught with challenges. Legislative efforts, such as the digital assets market structure bill known as the Clarity Act, are currently stalled amid a prolonged federal government shutdown.
“Banks are looking for and need that clarity for them to really lean in,” Garlinghouse commented, underlining the need for clear regulatory guidelines to encourage deeper involvement from financial institutions. As Ripple continues to navigate this complex landscape, the company remains focused on establishing a foothold at the intersection of cryptocurrency and traditional finance.
