Ripple is expanding its presence on Wall Street as institutional demand for alternative financing services grows.
The company’s Ripple Prime platform is targeting opportunities across leveraged ETFs, hedge funds, and digital assets.
Its expanded relationship with Brevan Howard marks another step into traditional financial markets. Meanwhile, Ripple continues building institutional partnerships beyond the United States.
Ripple Prime expands financing services through Brevan Howard partnership
Global investment manager Brevan Howard has expanded its partnership with Ripple to access multi-asset prime brokerage, clearing, and financing services. Ripple Prime will provide these services across Brevan Howard’s funds through its unified brokerage platform.
The companies established their relationship in 2025 when Brevan Howard-affiliated funds participated in Ripple’s $500 million investment round.
Noel Kimmel, president of Ripple Prime, said the agreement demonstrates the platform’s competitive position and cross-asset capabilities.
Alan McGroarty, Brevan Howard’s group chief operating officer, said the platform could improve operational efficiency and capital management across investment teams.
The agreement comes as the leveraged ETF market attracts more financing providers. Morningstar Direct data shows that the United States has 593 leveraged ETFs managing over $256 billion.
Of these products, 426 focus on individual stocks, creating opportunities for firms providing swap financing and trading infrastructure.
Ripple entered the swap financing market through its $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road in 2025. The company subsequently rebranded the brokerage business as Ripple Prime.
Recently, Kroll Bond Rating Agency assigned Ripple Prime a BBB issuer rating. The platform also integrated Hyperliquid, marking its first direct connection with a decentralized finance platform.
Meanwhile, non-bank firms, including Jane Street and Clear Street, have expanded their involvement in leveraged ETF financing.
Todd Sohn, chief ETF strategist at Baird Strategas, linked growing participation to increasing demand and potentially higher swap fees.
Stricter banking regulations have also created opportunities for alternative financing providers serving ETF issuers, including newer investment firms.
Prime brokers typically handle trade execution, financing, clearing, and custody for institutional investors. These services allow investment managers to coordinate operations through one provider.
Ripple’s expansion connects these traditional financial services with its existing digital asset infrastructure.
Ripple expands institutional services through Meritz securities agreement
Ripple has also signed a strategic agreement with South Korea’s Meritz Securities to explore blockchain custody and tokenization services.
The partnership focuses on preparing capital market infrastructure before South Korea’s tokenized securities regulations take effect on February 4, 2027.
However, both companies will initially assess potential applications under existing securities laws rather than launch products immediately.
Meritz Securities is exploring spot ETFs, fractional investments, security token offerings, trading venues, and won-backed stablecoins.
Ripple’s custody and tokenization infrastructure could support those initiatives as South Korea develops its regulated digital securities market.
The agreement follows Ripple’s earlier partnership with South Africa’s Absa CIB, which launched a bank-backed cryptocurrency custody service.
That collaboration involved establishing corporate infrastructure before introducing custody services.
Ripple has continued expanding beyond blockchain payments into custody, stablecoins, tokenization, and prime brokerage.
Together, the Brevan Howard and Meritz agreements extend Ripple’s institutional services across traditional finance and digital asset markets.
