Ripple launches $750 million stock buyback, valuation rises to $50 billion

Sources familiar with the matter told The Block that blockchain payments company Ripple has launched a stock buyback program valued at up to $750 million, with the company’s valuation set at $50 billion. The buyback is being conducted through a tender offer, allowing investors and employees to sell their shares back to the company. The tender offer is expected to continue until April.

Scale and Background of the Buyback Plan: Two Attempts at Capital Strategy

In October 2025, Ripple attempted to initiate a $1 billion tender offer at a $40 billion valuation, but due to private shareholders’ reluctance to sell their shares, participation was limited, and the effort did not meet expectations. The current $750 million buyback at a $50 billion valuation is an adjustment based on the previous attempt. Although the scale is smaller, the valuation has significantly increased.

Ripple completed its most recent funding round in November 2025, raising $500 million at a $40 billion valuation, led by Fortress Investment Group and funds under Citadel Securities. Pantera Capital, Galaxy Digital, Brevan Howard, and Marshall Wace also participated.

Ripple President Monica Long stated earlier this year that the company currently has no plans for an IPO, emphasizing strong financial health and a preference for private expansion through acquisitions and product development.

Ripple’s Business Expansion Blueprint: Approximately $4 Billion Ecosystem Investment

In recent years, Ripple has continued to expand through active acquisitions and investments, claiming to have invested around $4 billion into the crypto ecosystem:

Hidden Road: Acquired a top-tier non-bank prime broker for about $1.25 billion, making Ripple the first native crypto company to operate a multi-asset prime brokerage.

Rail: Acquired a stablecoin platform for $200 million to strengthen its stablecoin ecosystem.

BC Payments (Australia, announced this week): Planning to acquire an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) to expand its operations in the Asia-Pacific region.

On the business front, Ripple stated earlier this month that its payment volume has surpassed $100 billion, and it has observed increasing adoption of stablecoins by global fintech companies to address cross-border liquidity and settlement efficiency issues.

Market Context: Contrarian Buyback Logic Amid 50% XRP Drop

Ripple’s stock buyback plan comes amid a challenging crypto market: Bitcoin has fallen over 40% from its October high, and XRP, closely tied to Ripple’s business, has declined over 50% during the same period. In this market environment, Ripple initiated the buyback at a higher valuation (rising from $40 billion to $50 billion), partly to provide liquidity exits for employees and early investors, and also reflecting management’s confidence in the company’s long-term prospects.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Ripple’s $750 million stock buyback differ from an IPO?

A tender offer involves the company offering existing shareholders (employees and investors) the opportunity to sell their shares at a specific valuation, with funds paid by the company itself. An IPO is a public listing allowing the general public to buy shares. Ripple President Monica Long has explicitly stated that there are no plans for an IPO; the company prefers to expand through private market acquisitions.

How does the $50 billion valuation for this buyback compare to the previous funding round?

In November 2025, Ripple completed a $500 million funding round at a $40 billion valuation. The current $50 billion valuation for the buyback is about 25% higher than the last round, despite the overall crypto market experiencing a significant downturn, indicating management’s confidence in the company’s valuation.

Why did Ripple choose to initiate a stock buyback during XRP’s significant decline?

XRP and Bitcoin have respectively fallen over 50% and 40%, but Ripple’s fundamentals continue to improve, with payment volume surpassing $100 billion. The buyback plan provides liquidity exits for employees and early investors and reflects management’s ongoing confidence in the company’s long-term value.