Ripple’s Hidden Road Acquisition Drives Expansion into Abu Dhabi Market

Highlights:

• Hidden Road has secured regulatory approval to offer services in Abu Dhabi, expanding into the Middle East.
• Ripple is looking to take non-bank prime brokerage to a larger scale by acquiring Hidden Road.
• Potential involvement from the Abu Dhabi royal family enhances Hidden Road’s regional support and growth.

Ripple’s purchase of the prime brokerage Hidden Road is a landmark move in the world’s financial environment, especially within the Middle East. With expertise in traditional and digital assets, Hidden Road is on a mission to reinforce its local presence through a new office in Abu Dhabi. This expansion follows in-principle approval from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). The move will help lay the foundation for being able to grow in the UAE.

Hidden Road Expands into Abu Dhabi with Regulatory Approval

The firm has officially announced the intention to open a new office in Abu Dhabi. James Stickland, a partner in the firm, will head the office. With a background as the former CEO of Elwood Technologies, Stickland joined Hidden Road over a year ago and will lead the firm’s operations.

HOT: Ripple’s Hidden Road, a $1.25B-acquired asset broker, to open Abu Dhabi office, per CoinDesk.

The company aims to provide clearing and prime brokerage services to institutional investors in the UAE. pic.twitter.com/Q7zxYSrL8t

— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) May 8, 2025

The company obtained an in-principle approach (IPA) from ADGM FSRA. This approval is a significant breakthrough for Hidden Road’s efforts at expanding globally. Once final approval is granted, a firm will be licensed to provide clearing and prime brokerage services to institutional investors in the UAE. This decision is consistent with the overall strategy of the company to retain traditional finance clients and crypto-oriented players.

Ripple’s Acquisition and Its Global Expansion Plans

The $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road by Ripple is a game-changer in the digital asset industry. This deal will add major strength to the firm’s clearing, prime brokerage, and financing operations capabilities. With its large balance sheet, Ripple plans to make the firm the largest non-bank prime broker in the world.

Today, Ripple announced it is acquiring Hidden Road for $1.25B– becoming the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker. Together, Ripple and Hidden Road are bringing the promise of digital assets to institutional customers at scale, bridging…

— Ripple (@Ripple) April 8, 2025

The company has recent approvals, such as its license from AFM, from the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets. In addition, regulatory clearance in the U.S. indicates the efforts at global compliance.

As part of the acquisition, Hidden Road’s service offerings will be upgraded, especially in the Middle East. Both the crypto and traditional finance sectors are blowing up in this region. Ripple’s support will allow the company to scale its operations to meet the mounting demand for services in such developing markets.

Royal Family Potentially Joins Hidden Road’s Board

In an exciting development, a royal family member from Abu Dhabi is said to be under consideration for a role on the board of Hidden Road’s corresponding entity within the locality. This possible addition is reflective of the expanding support for the firm’s regional expansion and indicates a consensus with key local stakeholders.

In recent years, Abu Dhabi has become a crypto hub. Big firms such as Circle, the issuer of USDC, have received regulatory green lights. The firm’s entry into this part of the world underlines the strategic role of the UAE as a hub of digital finance.