Ripple Builds ‘Next Amazon’ With XRP At The Center, Says Crypto CEO

Digital Ascension Group CEO Jake Claver views Ripple's 2025 acquisitions as a strategic move to build the "Amazon of financial infrastructure." He argues Ripple is creating a vertically integrated stack, mirroring Amazon's success by owning infrastructure, with XRP and RLUSD at the settlement layer. Claver believes this strategy provides structural advantages like lower costs and higher switching costs for institutions. He contends that such vertical integration is rare in financial services, where firms typically specialize. The acquisitions are seen as building blocks for Ripple's institutional platform. Key acquisitions include Hidden Road (now Ripple Prime), a prime brokerage acquired for $1.25 billion, which handles clearing, custody, and settlement. Rail, a stablecoin payment platform bought for $200 million, aims to process a significant portion of the B2B stablecoin market. GTreasury, acquired for $1 billion, provides treasury software to large corporations, offering distribution to finance executives. Palisade, with undisclosed terms, adds hot wallet infrastructure for high-velocity transactions. Claver suggests this comprehensive offering, branded "Ripple 1," aims for a "winner take all" dynamic in financial services.