The digital asset landscape is witnessing a significant push from two different directions. While Ripple is building sophisticated infrastructure for institutional players, influential author Robert Kiyosaki is urging individual investors to abandon traditional financial systems in favor of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
These parallel developments highlight a maturing market where major corporations are creating regulated pathways for large-scale investment, while prominent voices continue to champion crypto as a tool for personal financial freedom.
Key Takeaways
- Ripple has finalized its acquisition of prime broker Hidden Road, rebranding it as Ripple Prime to serve institutional clients.
- Ripple Prime will offer services across digital assets, derivatives, and foreign exchange, integrating XRP and the stablecoin RLUSD.
- Robert Kiyosaki advocates for a shift to assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, warning against reliance on fiat currency and traditional savings.
- Kiyosaki highlights Bitcoin's scarcity and Ethereum's growth potential as key reasons for individuals to invest now.
Ripple's Strategic Move into Institutional Finance
Ripple has officially completed its acquisition of Hidden Road, a non-bank prime broker, and launched the new entity under the name Ripple Prime. This move establishes Ripple as the first cryptocurrency firm to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime brokerage.
The new platform is designed to bridge the gap between traditional finance and the growing digital asset market. It will provide institutional clients with a single point of access to a wide range of services, including trading in digital assets, foreign exchange, derivatives, swaps, and fixed-income products.
According to the company, the initiative has already gained significant traction. Since the initial acquisition announcement, business for the prime brokerage unit has reportedly grown by 300%, with further expansion expected as new and existing clients are onboarded.
What is a Prime Broker?
In traditional finance, a prime brokerage is a bundled set of services that investment banks and other financial institutions offer to hedge funds and other large institutional clients. These services typically include cash management, securities lending, and risk management. Ripple Prime aims to bring this model to the digital asset space.
Expanding the Ripple Ecosystem with XRP and RLUSD
A central component of this strategy involves integrating Ripple's own digital assets, XRP and the stablecoin RLUSD, into the institutional framework. CEO Brad Garlinghouse has reiterated that XRP remains at the core of the company's vision for creating an "Internet of Value."
The company stated that Ripple Prime will substantially increase the utility of RLUSD. The stablecoin is already being used as collateral for some prime brokerage products, and certain derivatives clients have started holding their balances in RLUSD.
"As we continue to build solutions towards enabling an Internet of Value – I’m reminding you all that XRP sits at the center of everything Ripple does," Garlinghouse noted following the acquisition's completion.
The stablecoin, RLUSD, received an "A" rating from research firm Bluechip in July for its governance and asset backing. The Bank of New York Mellon serves as the primary custodian for its reserves, adding a layer of traditional financial oversight.
Kiyosaki's Urgent Call for Individual Investors
While Ripple builds financial highways for institutions, Robert Kiyosaki, author of the best-selling book Rich Dad Poor Dad, is sounding an alarm for individual savers. He argues that a massive financial gap, which he calls a "Grand Canyon," is widening between the rich and the poor.
Kiyosaki categorizes people into "old thinkers" and "new thinkers." He describes old thinkers as those who follow conventional advice: go to school, work harder, save what he terms "fake money," and invest in traditional retirement plans.
In contrast, he advises his followers to become "new thinkers" who protect their wealth by starting businesses and saving in what he considers real assets: gold, silver, Bitcoin, and Ethereum.
Bitcoin's Scarcity Principle
Robert Kiyosaki frequently points to Bitcoin's fixed supply as a key advantage. The protocol dictates that only 21 million bitcoins will ever be created, making it a scarce asset, unlike fiat currencies which can be printed by central banks without limit.
Why Bitcoin and Ethereum Are 'Real Money'
Kiyosaki has become increasingly vocal about his belief in the top two cryptocurrencies. He shared his personal strategy, explaining that he is buying Bitcoin because it is the "first truly scarce money." He anticipates that institutional buying will accelerate, creating a powerful fear of missing out (FOMO) for those who wait.
He also sees significant potential in Ethereum, drawing a parallel for today's investors.
- Bitcoin (BTC): A hedge against inflation and the collapse of fiat currencies due to its limited supply.
- Ethereum (ETH): An opportunity for growth, comparing its current price of around $4,000 to when Bitcoin was at a similar level.
Kiyosaki's core message is that the U.S. dollar and other government-issued currencies are steadily losing purchasing power due to rising national debt. He dismisses warnings about cryptocurrency crashes as financial "clickbait," asserting that "today bitcoin and ethereum are real money."
A Market at a Crossroads
The simultaneous moves by Ripple and the persistent advice from figures like Kiyosaki illustrate a critical phase in the adoption of digital assets. On one hand, the creation of regulated, institutional-grade platforms like Ripple Prime provides the infrastructure necessary for large-scale capital to enter the market safely.
On the other hand, the message of financial self-sovereignty and wealth preservation through assets like Bitcoin continues to resonate with a growing number of individuals concerned about inflation and economic instability. This dual push—from the top-down by corporations and from the bottom-up by retail investors—suggests that digital assets are solidifying their role in the future of global finance.
