Ripple has rolled out digital asset spot prime brokerage services for institutional clients in the United States, marking another big step into Wall Street-style crypto trading.
With this move, U.S. institutions can now trade top crypto assets over-the-counter (OTC), including XRP and Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD.
Ripple Prime OTC crypto brokerage
OTC trading allows firms to negotiate trades directly instead of going through crypto exchanges. This often means deeper liquidity, better pricing for large orders, and more privacy.
The new service operates under Ripple Prime, which now combines Ripple’s existing licenses with Hidden Road’s technology and trading infrastructure.
This allows Ripple Prime to stand as a gateway to multiple markets, including foreign exchange, crypto spot trading, derivatives, swaps, and even fixed-income products.
Reacting to the development, Michael Higgins, International CEO of Ripple Prime, said the launch is a major upgrade for institutional customers.
“The launch of OTC spot execution capabilities complements our existing OTC and cleared derivatives services and positions us to provide U.S. institutions with a comprehensive offering,” Higgins explained in a statement.
In simple terms, Ripple is building a one-stop shop where firms can manage a wide range of digital and traditional financial assets in one place.
Institutions can also cross-margin their OTC spot positions with other digital asset holdings, including swaps and CME-listed crypto futures and options. This allows for more flexible trading strategies and better capital efficiency.
The launch follows the company’s acquisition of multi-asset prime broker Hidden Road, which Ripple completed in October 2025. With the platform now fully integrated and renamed Ripple Prime, Ripple is pushing harder into institutional finance, an area once dominated by traditional banks and broker-dealers.
Accordingly, the San Francisco-based company has closed several expansion deals, including GTreasury acquisition and Evernorth Holdings merger.
This development also comes at a time when more financial institutions like Western Union are exploring crypto trading and blockchain-based payment rails. Western Union plans to launch its USDPT stablecoin and digital asset network on Solana in 2026.
