Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commissions or revenue on certain items linked below.

Ripple’s Future Aspirations

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse recently indicated that the company is exploring the possibility of engaging in acquisitions during the latter half of 2026, following a remarkable expenditure of $4 billion on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the previous year. This decision comes at a time when XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) continues to linger around 60% below its all-time peak, which raises questions about investor confidence and market demand.

Insights from the XRP Community Day

During an online event known as XRP Community Day, Garlinghouse emphasized that the focal point for Ripple in 2026 will be on the integration of existing assets rather than seeking new deals, as reported by The Block. He elaborated, stating, “I don’t think you should expect any other big acquisitions. But you never know; the second half of the year might be when we become more acquisitive again.” This comment sheds light on the strategic shift back to potential growth opportunities after significant past investments.

Ripple’s Expansive Acquisitions

In 2025, Ripple funneled an impressive $4 billion into the crypto ecosystem through investments, mergers, and acquisitions, solidifying its status as a major player in the market. This spending spree is particularly noteworthy considering the downturn in XRP’s value, which presents a paradox of high expenditure against a backdrop of declining coin performance.

Key Acquisitions Highlighted

Among Ripple’s notable deals was the acquisition of Hidden Road for approximately $1.25 billion, as well as GTreasury, which was secured for $1 billion. Hidden Road reported an astounding annual transaction volume of $3 trillion while serving over 300 institutional clients, a figure that was further elevated after its rebranding to Ripple Prime. Similarly, GTreasury—now Ripple Treasury—offers essential tools for risk management, foreign exchange (FX) solutions, alongside compliance and audit frameworks that amplify Ripple’s operational capabilities.

XRP as Ripple’s Central Focus

Garlinghouse remarked that “XRP is the North Star for Ripple. It’s our purpose,” emphasizing that all Ripple products—including Ripple Payments, Ripple Prime, Ripple Treasury, custody solutions, and the RLUSD stablecoin—are inherently designed to enhance the utility, trust, velocity, and liquidity of XRP and the XRP Ledger. This strategic alignment suggests that Ripple’s growth narrative is heavily reliant on the long-term performance of XRP itself.

Market Dynamics and XRP’s Price Activity

Trending: Wall Street’s $12B Real Estate Manager Is Opening Its Doors to Individual Investors — Without the Crowdfunding Middlemen

Following a recent downturn, XRP is witnessing a recovery after dropping to $1.15-$1.20, dubbed a severe capitulation event. The technical indicator, Parabolic SAR, has flipped to $1.1515, another significant point below its price during this decline, hinting at a potential momentary shift in market dynamics. Nonetheless, the Supertrend indicator stood at $1.7418, suggesting that bearish sentiment still prevails in the market. This positioning affirms that sellers remain dominant as of now.

Critical support levels are currently stationed between $1.15 and $1.20. A breach below these levels could trigger further selling pressure leading down to the psychological $1 threshold or even lower. That said, a recent bounce has seen the price recover to the $1.37-$1.40 mark, but significant resistance continues to impede further advancement. Immediate resistance levels for XRP are visible between $1.45 and $1.50, with a secondary resistance zone at $1.70 and $1.80, inclusive of the Supertrend level. To support meaningful recovery, XRP will need to hold above $1.30 and maintain higher lows throughout potential pullbacks.

The Bigger Picture of Ripple’s M&A Strategy

The $4 billion investment made last year solidifies Ripple’s position as one of the most prominent acquirers in the crypto landscape, second only to Tether. While the overarching question for XRP remains whether these M&A activities and product expansions can translate effectively into increased demand for the token, Garlinghouse continues to frame strategic moves around enhancing XRP’s utility. However, the current 60% market crash raises doubts among investors about the effectiveness of these strategies. Therefore, it becomes crucial for stakeholders to navigate this complex environment carefully. This is where AI legalese decoder can be instrumental. This innovative tool can simplify complex legal documents, making it easier for users to understand the implications of Ripple’s actions and the regulatory landscape surrounding them. By demystifying legal jargon, it empowers individuals and organizations to make informed decisions in an uncertain market. Leveraging this technology can ultimately aid in safeguarding investments by ensuring clarity and compliance.

Image: Shutterstock

Read Next: Put professional stock research to work in a single ETF — explore Motley Fool Asset Management’s factor-based funds.

Diversifying Investments for Long-Term Stability

In today’s ever-shifting economic landscape, it is essential to build a resilient investment portfolio. Investors should think beyond individual assets or singular market trends. Rather, they must recognize that economic cycles fluctuate, and sectors can experience rapid ascents and descents. As such, many savvy investors turn to diversification through platforms that offer unique access to various asset classes like real estate, fixed-income opportunities, and professionally curated financial guidance. Spreading investments across multiple asset classes can assist in risk management, facilitating steady returns and enabling long-term wealth accumulation that isn’t solely reliant on one industry or asset type.

Rad AI’s groundbreaking artificial intelligence technologies help in converting chaotic data into actionable insights, allowing the generation of high-quality content with quantifiable returns on investment. They offer a Regulation A+ venture enabling investments at $0.85 per share with a minimum investment of just $1,000. This program extends an opportunity for investors to diversify further into the burgeoning AI sector, providing a ground-floor chance to be part of this data-driven growth narrative.

Backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes brings real estate investment opportunities to individuals by lowering the entry barriers. Now, investors can purchase fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting at just $100. This model allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without the complexities of direct property management.

Lightstone DIRECT offers accredited investors unparalleled access to institutional-quality real estate, moving beyond conventional crowdfunding techniques. By eliminating intermediaries, it aligns the interests of both investors and managers while providing access to a portfolio exceeding $12 billion. It spans multiple asset types, including multifamily, industrial, hospitality, retail, office, and life sciences. This approach empowers investors to achieve diversification across various property formats and markets, thereby attaining professional-grade real estate exposure without the common fees or misalignments seen in other avenues.

Masterworks provides a platform for investors to diversify into blue-chip art, an unconventional asset class historically lacking strong correlations to the stock and bond markets. Through fractional ownership of exceptional works housed in museums by acclaimed artists like Banksy, Basquiat, and Picasso, investors can partake without enduring the significant expenses or complexities tied to outright ownership. With a plethora of offerings and substantial historical successes on select works, Masterworks serves as a valuable addition to investment portfolios aiming for long-term diversification.

BAM Capital opens doors for accredited investors to expand their portfolios beyond public markets via institutional-grade multifamily real estate. Boasting over $1.85 billion in completed transactions with insights from Senior Economic Advisor Tony Landa, the firm emphasizes income and sustainable growth prospects, especially as market demand for renting continues to remain strong. These income-oriented and growth-focused funds provide exposure to tangible assets that aim to be less affected by stock market fluctuations.

With digital assets becoming increasingly pertinent to diversified portfolios, traders are keenly searching for platforms that emphasize transparency, efficiency, and control. Kraken Pro offers an advanced trading interface from one of the globe’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, specifically tailored for users desiring more sophisticated tools devoid of added hurdles. Including low fee structures based on trading volume and a streamlined interface designed for managing spot, margin, and futures trading securely, Kraken Pro serves as an avenue for acquiring diversified crypto exposure through a professional-grade trading experience.

REX Shares develops specialized ETFs for investors seeking precision beyond conventional broad-market funds. Its portfolio encompasses income-based strategies, leveraged and inverse exposures, spot-linked crypto ETFs, and thematic funds focused on overarching market trends. By targeting specific income goals, volatility metrics, or market segments, these ETFs offer alternative return drivers and lessen reliance on singular market movements while retaining the liquidity and transparency of the ETF model.

Motley Fool Asset Management brings its well-established “Foolish” investing philosophy into a collection of passive ETFs based on clearly defined, rules-driven investment strategies. Founded upon decades of proprietary research from The Motley Fool, LLC, these factor-based ETFs focus on growth, value, and momentum approaches, selecting U.S. companies based on long-term potential and risk. For those seeking expert-driven stock exposure without the constraints of active trading, Motley Fool Asset Management provides a straightforward way to access informed strategies through the ease and liquidity of ETFs.

Elf Labs functions as an IP-centric entertainment firm that draws inspiration from strategies employed by giants like Disney and Marvel—specifically, acquiring ownership of globally recognized character intellectual property. After engaging for over a decade in rights acquisition, the company controls a staggering 500+ protected trademarks and copyrights tied to iconic characters—including Cinderella, Snow White, and Peter Pan. Their business model has already facilitated over $15 million in royalties, extended licensing into more than 30 countries, and supported the launch of over 100 product lines. With a reserved Nasdaq ticker ($ELFS) and a valuation surge exceeding 1,600% in under two years, Elf Labs is advancing its distribution strategy via patented production methods as well as global licensing and digital initiatives—offering investors a unique entry point into a private entertainment enterprise with a clear trajectory for public market engagement.

This article titled ‘XRP Is The North Star,’ Says Ripple CEO After $4B In Acquisitions In 2025 originally appeared on Benzinga.com

© 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not offer investment advice. All rights reserved.