Ripple's $1.25B Hidden Road Acquisition Fails to Move XRP Price

Ripple's $1.25 billion acquisition of global prime brokerage firm Hidden Road was supposed to be a defining moment—an industry-first move that positioned the blockchain giant

Ripple’s $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, a global prime brokerage firm, was supposed to be a defining moment. It’s an industry-first move that positions Ripple to dominate institutional crypto finance.

But in the crypto market, Hidden Road’s stellar acquisition has triggered an unexpected backlash from the XRP community, frustrated over the token’s lackluster price performance despite Ripple’s aggressive growth.

Ripple’s Boldest Move Yet

The acquisition of Hidden Road, which operates in forex, digital assets, and derivatives, makes Ripple the first crypto company to own and operate a regulated global prime broker. The deal expands Ripple’s regulatory and operational reach across North America, Europe, and Asia, signaling a major power shift in the digital finance space.

However, the crypto market’s response, or lack thereof, has sparked discontent among XRP holders. Despite Ripple’s expanded institutional access and enhanced regulatory muscle, XRP continues to lag behind its crypto peers like Bitcoin and Ethereum in price performance.

Edward Farina Calls Out XRP Price ‘Suppression’

Taking to social media platform X, long-time XRP advocate and Alpha Lions Academy CEO Edward Farina blasted what he called “intentional market suppression” of XRP.

“In a fair market, XRP would already be well above $100,” Farina stated. He attributes the lack of fair price discovery to the ongoing SEC lawsuit against Ripple, geopolitical factors like trade tariffs, and recent volatility in the crypto market.

His candid frustration marks a rare but growing sentiment within the typically loyal XRP community.

Sentiment Shift: ‘Our Time Will Come’—But When?

On social platforms, supporters echoed Farina’s sentiments. One user, @Atom_XRPL, posted, “Seriously, it’s like XRP’s stuck in the mud. This Hidden Road acquisition was massive—it should’ve pumped like crazy.”

The sentiment shift is significant. While Ripple continues to rack up regulatory wins and global infrastructure plays, XRP’s market behavior remains disconnected from the company’s business momentum. And that disconnect is fueling speculation of systemic undervaluation or even manipulation.

This aligns perfectly with Ripple’s long-standing mission to be the bridge between blockchain and the global banking system.

And yet, the price of XRP remains curiously untouched, leading many to ask—what exactly will it take to move the needle?

As Ripple continues to scale and reshape global finance, the tension between XRP’s technological promise and market performance grows louder. The community remains hopeful, but for many, patience is wearing