At the Swell conference in New York, company president Monica Long confirmed that the blockchain payments giant has no intention of launching an IPO anytime soon. The comment came despite a flurry of speculation following Ripple’s $500 million funding round led by Fortress Investment Group, which pushed the company’s valuation to $40 billion.
Long said Ripple’s financial footing remains strong enough to fund expansion without relying on public markets. "We already have the balance sheet and liquidity we need," she explained, pointing to a roadmap centered on strategic acquisitions and partnerships rather than equity issuance.
A Shift in Strategy
Ripple’s stance marks a notable change in tone from last year, when CEO Brad Garlinghouse hinted that going public could be part of the company’s future once its legal fight with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission was behind it. While that door isn’t closed completely, Long emphasized that Ripple’s current momentum stems from independence — the ability to move quickly, acquire aggressively, and avoid quarterly market pressures.
Industry analysts interpret the move as a sign of discipline rather than hesitation. After years of turbulence tied to regulatory uncertainty, Ripple appears focused on consolidating its ecosystem before taking another leap.
XRP Ecosystem Breaks New Records
While the company holds off on an IPO, its blockchain is thriving. The XRP Ledger (XRPL) surpassed 100 million closed ledgers this week — a major technical milestone that reflects sustained user and developer engagement.
Meanwhile, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, launched less than a year ago, has already topped $1 billion in market capitalization, joining the upper tier of stablecoins by volume. Long described it as "a milestone that signals the network’s maturity," hinting at more integrations and cross-border use cases on the way.
Expansion Through Acquisitions
Ripple’s growth strategy over the past year has revolved around calculated acquisitions. It recently bought Hidden Road, a prime brokerage valued around $1.25 billion, as well as GTreasury, a corporate cash management firm, for $1 billion. These moves have expanded Ripple’s reach into traditional finance, positioning it as a hybrid between a fintech and an enterprise blockchain provider.
By maintaining control as a private company, Ripple can pursue large-scale acquisitions like these without the scrutiny of shareholders or the short-term focus of public markets — a luxury few blockchain firms enjoy.
Looking Ahead
For Ripple, the next phase isn’t about ringing the Nasdaq bell — it’s about reinforcing its ecosystem and proving that blockchain infrastructure can scale sustainably. While public offerings often signal maturity, Ripple seems content to show its growth through technology, not stock tickers.
As Monica Long put it, the company’s mission remains clear: keep building — not waiting for Wall Street’s approval.