Woofun AI reports that Michael Higgins, international chief executive of Ripple Prime, identified blockchain infrastructure as the essential base layer for "Wall Street 2.0" during a Markets Media interview, arguing that next-generation financial markets depend on always-on settlement rather than traditional banking hours.

Despite a noted slowdown in segments of the digital asset market, institutional interest in blockchain technology remains robust. Large financial firms are actively pursuing faster settlement mechanisms, asset tokenization, and real-time liquidity management to overcome the limitations of legacy systems.

The strategic pivot was accelerated by Ripple’s $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, finalized in late 2025. This transaction significantly expanded Ripple’s institutional footprint by integrating prime brokerage, clearing, and financing capabilities across multiple asset classes, resulting in Ripple Prime’s revenue tripling compared to the previous year.

Woofun AI data shows that Ripple Prime secured a $200 million debt facility from Neuberger Specialty Finance to enhance liquidity solutions. This capital supports integrated client services spanning foreign exchange, digital assets, derivatives, swaps, and fixed-income products, while regulated stablecoins like RLUSD are deployed to improve collateral efficiency through continuous, round-the-clock settlement.

As major banks expand into digital prime brokerage amid improving regulatory clarity, the industry is witnessing increased testing of tokenized deposits, digital bonds, and blockchain-based settlement platforms. Higgins contends that blockchain-native technology platforms maintain a competitive advantage because they are engineered for multi-asset operations, unlike legacy infrastructure adapted from decades-old frameworks.