Ripple CEO Unveils How Prime Brokers Are Becoming the Critical Bridge Between TradFi and DeFi

The walled gardens of traditional finance are finally getting a crossover episode—and Ripple’s CEO says prime brokers hold the golden ticket.

Forget 'disruption.' The real story? Institutional gatekeepers quietly building the on-ramps for the decentralized future (while probably skimming fees on both sides, because old habits die hard).

Here’s why it matters: Liquidity moves where the infrastructure exists. When prime brokers—the same firms that once dismissed crypto as a 'fraud'—start facilitating DeFi access, the floodgates open.

The punchline? TradFi wants in on DeFi’s yields without admitting blockchain was right all along. Cue the slow-motion pivot.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse explained that prime brokers are streamlining large-scale clearing between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). He noted that, following Ripple’s acquisition of prime broker Hidden Road, institutions can now access unified services—trade execution, clearing, custody, and credit—for both traditional and digital assets. This integration brings efficiency, security, and instant settlement, making it easier for large players to MOVE capital between the worlds of TradFi and DeFi.