Wall Street giants are rushing to get involved, but Ripple has hit the brakes—this crypto giant is playing a game bigger than an IPO.

In November last year, Ripple completed a $500 million funding round with a valuation of $40 billion. Top Wall Street firms like Citadel Securities and Fortress Investment Group participated, and it was widely seen as the final prep before going public. Who knew, the plot took a sudden turn.

Ripple President Monica Long broke all speculation with one sentence: "Our balance sheet is healthy, liquidity is sufficient, and we are not considering an IPO for now."

Sounds a bit counterintuitive, right? Aren't startups all aiming for an IPO? But this move by Ripple reveals a deeper signal—the traditional financing logic is being overturned.

Long was more straightforward in the funding announcement: "We actually don't lack funds; this round is because institutional investors want to come in." In other words, this isn't a fundraising for survival, but a strategic alliance. What Wall Street values isn't just technology or business models, but the digital asset reserves Ripple holds, like over 34.7 billion XRP.

In a time of ample liquidity and capital inflow, Ripple has chosen a more autonomous path—raising funds through private placements to control the narrative while maintaining operational independence. This approach could signal a new direction for the entire crypto financing ecosystem.