Ripple Stays Private: The Unexpected Move That’s Shaking Crypto Investors

Ripple just swerved the public markets—and left investors scrambling.

The Private Path

While the crypto world held its breath for a landmark IPO, Ripple doubled down on staying private. No ticker symbol. No quarterly earnings calls. Just the same closed-door strategy that's fueled its growth for years. The decision cuts against the grain of a sector hungry for mainstream legitimacy.

Why It Matters

This isn't just about one company's balance sheet. It's a signal. Ripple's choice to bypass Wall Street's traditional playbook suggests a deeper confidence in its own ecosystem—or a calculated bet that the regulatory winds aren't yet favorable. It keeps the firm agile, free from the relentless scrutiny of public shareholders obsessed with next quarter's numbers.

The Investor Ripple Effect

The surprise move sends a mixed message. For some, it's a disappointment—a missed opportunity to anchor crypto in the traditional financial system. For others, it's a bullish sign: Ripple believes its value creation is better served away from the public glare and the short-termism that plagues modern markets. After all, why subject yourself to the circus of public opinion when you can keep building in private?

One thing's clear: in an industry chasing validation, Ripple just wrote its own rulebook. Whether that's visionary or merely convenient is the billion-dollar question Wall Street won't get to answer—at least, not yet.

In brief

• Ripple officially dismisses any IPO, despite a valuation reaching 40 billion dollars.
• Monica Long, president of Ripple Labs, states that the company can fund its growth without relying on public markets.
• This decision surprises, as several recent signals hinted at an imminent IPO.
• This stance marks a clear intent to integrate into the traditional banking landscape while maintaining strategic independence.

A postponed IPO : the financial strategy of a crypto giant

The end of the long legal battle with the SEC opens new prospects for Ripple. Thus, interviewed by Bloomberg this Tuesday January 6, Monica Long, president of Ripple Labs, declared unambiguously : “for now, we still intend to remain a private company”.

A statement that dispels persistent rumors about an IPO, fueled by the company’s recent financial developments. Long specified that Ripple does not need to resort to public markets to finance its growth : “we are in a very healthy financial situation, which allows us to continue funding and investing in our company’s growth without going public”.

Speculations were nevertheless fueled by several concrete elements :

• A massive fundraising of 500 million dollars in November 2025, led by Citadel Securities and Fortress Investment Group ;

• A Ripple valuation raised to 40 billion dollars following this operation, increasing market expectations for a future IPO ;

• The post-litigation context with the SEC, interpreted as a potential green light for an IPO ;

• Comparisons with other industry players, such as Circle or BitGo, who have already launched or planned their IPO.

Faced with these signals, Ripple opposes an independent growth strategy, without reliance on public markets to raise capital. The choice to remain private is assumed as a strategic stance, allowing the company to keep its flexibility and governance while continuing its international expansion.

A regulatory and banking shift behind the scenes

Beyond the IPO question, Ripple is discreetly but significantly strengthening its regulatory positioning.

Last December, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) conditionally approved Ripple’s request to operate as a national trust bank in the United States. A major development that WOULD allow the company to offer institutional financial services under a federal charter.

It should be noted that Ripple specified in its request that this structure will not be used to issue a dollar-backed stablecoin, unlike some of its competitors such as Circle, which also obtained this approval. This decision marks a step towards deeper integration of Ripple into the traditional banking infrastructure, without implying a radical transformation of its business model.

Regulatory recognition through the banking charter thus consolidates its status while opening the way to new partnerships with traditional financial players. The focus is no longer on defending its legitimacy but on redefining its role in tomorrow’s banking ecosystem.

Ripple had already renounced going public despite its victory against the SEC. This now confirmed choice paves the way for controlled growth, away from the constraints of public markets. It remains to be seen if this strategy will hold up against investor pressure and the evolving global regulatory framework.

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