Why Ripple’s Latest DTCC Merger ‘Seems Important’

The installation sets the stage for Ripple Prime to combine traditional clearing infrastructure with blockchain settlement.

In a major move linking traditional and digital finance, the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has added Hidden Road Partners CIV US LLC to its index of NSCC Market Participant Identifiers.

Starting March 2, 2026, the NSCC update allows Ripple Prime to move post-trade volumes directly to the XRP Ledger (XRPL). Notably, the movement combines traditional market infrastructure with blockchain adaptation.

XRPL Goes Deeper into Wall Street Infrastructure

According to the DTCC notification dated 27 February 2026, the update is part of wider changes to the list of participants for insurance consideration. It also displays NSCC updates on all OTC, corporate, municipal, and UIT products.

As a result, Hidden Street appears under broker code 0443 using the alpha broker “HRFI,” which is directly authorized for OTC trading. The installation sets the stage for Ripple Prime to combine traditional clearing infrastructure with blockchain settlement.

The merger enables Ripple Prime to combine NSCC’s centralized clearing, risk management, and settlement services with XRPL’s speed and low transaction costs. Also, the system could compress payment times and improve financial efficiency across the system, which manages more than $2 quadrillion annually.

In line with its growth strategy, Ripple acquired Hidden Street in April 2025 for $1.25 billion, marking one of the largest deals in the history of digital assets. Rebranded as Ripple Prime in October 2025, the platform now offers multi-asset prime brokerage. It provides clearing, financing, and OTC spot trading of XRP and RLUSD stablecoins.

Prior to the acquisition, Hidden Road cleared $3 billion annually for more than 300 institutional clients across FX, derivatives, and digital assets. Ripple plans to move post-trade operations to XRPL, using RLUSD as collateral to bridge the gap between traditional and crypto markets.

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Important Development?

Ripple CTO Emeritus David Schwartz described the development as “seemingly significant” on social media, noting its potential impact on the acquisition of XRPL. Industry experts suggest the merger could increase payment speeds and institutional access while embedding blockchain deeper into the US financial infrastructure.

Beyond Ripple Prime, the DTCC announcement also highlighted other updates. These include Summit Wealth Group joining the insurance review on March 9, 2026, and US Securities International Corp. changing its outgoing vendor from NFSC to SWST.

Meanwhile, firms including Azzad Funds and Bain Capital Private Credit have retired, with other jobs being offered to ensure continued liquidation and settlement operations.