Crypto-related acquisitions and public entries in the US have already closed $ 8.2 billion for 88 deals in the first four months of 2025-triple the total from throughout 2024. The sharp increase shows a new integration phase between traditional finances (Tradfi) and decentralized finances (Defi).
These deals fall in five main trends: companies that buy Bitcoin for their treasury (such as twenty-one capital), traditional companies that merge with crypto infrastructure providers, acquisitions aimed at institutional services (such as Ripple Pinking Metaco), consolidation between CryptoSto.
But in particular one deal is a lot of praise from Pro-XRP lawyer John Deaton.
Deaton recently pointed to Ripple’s acquisition of $ 1.25 billion from Prime Brokerage Firm Hidden Road as “Possibly the best example” of the Tradfi-Defi convergence in Crypto. Hidden road processes more than $ 3 trillion per year for more than 300 institutional customers. By integrating with Ripple’s XRP whides (XRPL), the settlement times have fallen from 24 hours to just 3-5 seconds.
I agree with Chamath. I also believe that @Ripple’s $ 1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road as possibly the best example of the convergence of Tradfi and Defi throughout Crypto.
Hidden Road, an important brokerage company that treats more than $ 3T annually at 300+ institutional customers, now … https://t.co/yojce7zftk
– John E Deaton (@Johnedeaton1) April 28, 2025
Ripple’s RLUSD Stablecoin now acts as collateral for transactions, so that blockchain infrastructure is directly connected to institutional trade workflows. Deaton explained how this movement positions Ripple at the forefront of institutional Defi by combining the speed of Defi with the range of Tradefi.
He also opened the importance of Ripple’s rapid expansion in the custody of Crypto. In addition to acquiring Metaco, Ripple has purchased standard storage and launched “Ripple Custody” to offer settings a full series of services – from payments and stablecoins to storage of assets.
Why the big push in custody?
Deaton believes that Ripple is preparing for the tokenization tree. With the guardianship market that is expected to grow by 2030 more than $ 16 trillion, Ripple builds the tools banks that banks need to token, bonds or even real estate with the help of the XRPL – with RLUSD that drives these transactions.
‘It looks like it [CEO] Brad Garlinghouse makes up for the lost time, “said Deaton, referring to the progress of Ripple after the long legal battle with the sec.
