How can I buy shares of Ripple?

Ripple Labs, the company behind the XRP cryptocurrency, isn't publicly traded, so you can't buy shares in the U.S. from your brokerage account. However, you can buy Ripple's cryptocurrency (XRP) on exchanges in the U.S., like Coinbase and Robinhood (NASDAQ: HOOD).

Is Ripple worth investing in?

It's unclear whether Ripple Labs, the company behind the XRP cryptocurrency, will be a good investment once it completes its IPO. The company has yet to report any financial data publicly. To be a good investment, the company would have to show rapid revenue growth and have a clear line of sight to future profitability. It would also need to trade at a reasonable valuation following its IPO.

How to buy Ripple for beginners?

Ripple Labs, the company behind the XRP cryptocurrency, is privately held, so you can't buy its shares through your brokerage account. However, you can buy XRP through many popular exchanges and trading platforms, including Coinbase and Robinhood. Beginners who want to buy Ripple's cryptocurrency must open and fund an account with an exchange that trades XRP. Then, they can purchase the cryptocurrency.

Will Ripple go public?

As of late 2025, Ripple hadn't announced plans to go public. While there was speculation that the company could go public in the near future, it had yet to file the necessary paperwork with the SEC to complete an IPO.

Can You Buy Ripple Stock (XRP) in 2026?

Can You Buy Ripple Stock in 2026?

By Matthew DiLallo – Updated Jan 13, 2026 at 10:39 AM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Ripple resolved its SEC dispute with a $125 million fine, potentially clearing an IPO path for as early as 2026.
Ripple aims to improve foreign exchange speed.
Ripple is not yet a publicly traded company, though its XRP cryptocurrency trades publicly.

Ripple Labs is the financial technology company behind the popular cryptocurrency XRP (XRP -1.79%), sometimes called Ripple. The company uses XRP as a bridge currency to help facilitate cross-border payments and foreign exchange transactions.

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Wooden blocks that spell out XRP, which is the Ripple cryptocurrency. — Image source: Getty Images.

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Ripple got into legal trouble with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which, in 2020, alleged the company was selling its XRP cryptocurrency to investors as an unregistered security. They agreed to end their dispute in August 2025, with Ripple paying a $125 million fine.

Those legal troubles had been holding Ripple Labs back from completing its initial public offering (IPO). With its legal issues now in the rearview mirror, Ripple Labs could finally move forward with its long-awaited IPO.

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IPO

IPO (Initial Public Offering) is the first sale of stock by a private company to the public, making it a publicly traded entity.

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Fintech

Fintech, short for financial technology, are a variety of software platforms, apps, and hardware solutions that leverage tech to make financial processes easier, more efficient and more profitable.

1. Coinbase

Coinbase (COIN +1.94%) is a leading cryptocurrency exchange. It was launched to provide anyone, anywhere, with an easy, secure way to send and receive Bitcoin (BTC -0.51%). The company has since expanded to other cryptocurrencies, including Ripple's XRP. Coinbase's revenue and earnings will likely grow as more people use cryptocurrency.

2. Block

Block (NYSE:SQ) is a fintech company that provides businesses with several financial tools. The company began offering Bitcoin trading on its Cash App in 2017. It also formed Square Crypto, since renamed Spiral, to help advance the usage of Bitcoin.

The fintech company also produced a Bitcoin hardware digital wallet called BitKey. Block's investments in driving Bitcoin use could be a meaningful revenue and earnings catalyst for the company in the future.

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3. Circle Internet Group

Circle (CRCL +2.09%) is a global fintech company. The company issues a stablecoin, USDC (USDC -0.00%), that maintains a 1:1 value with the U.S. dollar. Circle was the first stablecoin issuer to go public when it completed its IPO in 2025.

How to buy Ripple alternatives

People who want to buy one of these Ripple alternatives can purchase shares in any brokerage account. Here's a step-by-step guide to investing in these fintech companies:

Step 1: Open your brokerage app. Log in to your brokerage account where you handle your investments. If you don't have one yet, take a look at our favorite brokers and trading platforms to find the right one for you.
Step 2: Search for the stock. Enter the ticker or company name into the search bar to bring up the stock's trading page.
Step 3: Decide how many shares to buy. Consider your investment goals and how much of your portfolio you want to allocate to this stock.
Step 4: Select order type. Choose between a market order to buy at the current price or a limit order to specify the maximum price you're willing to pay.
Step 5: Submit your order. Confirm the details and submit your buy order.
Step 6: Review your purchase. Check your portfolio to ensure your order was filled as expected and adjust your investment strategy accordingly.

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Shareholder

An individual or entity that owns a portion of a company's stock, entitling them to a share of its profits and assets.

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A gold and silver XRP coin. — Image source: Getty Images.

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Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)

An exchange-traded fund, or ETF, allows investors to buy many stocks or bonds at once.

However, they can gain exposure to the trends Ripple seeks to capitalize on through ETFs. One alternative to consider is a cryptocurrency ETF.

For example, the Amplify Transformational Data Sharing ETF (BLOK +1.19%) focuses on companies developing and utilizing blockchain technology. As of late 2025, it held shares of more than 50 companies, including Coinbase (3.9% of its assets and the fifth-largest holding). It had a rather high ETF expense ratio of 0.73%.

Another ETF alternative to consider is one focused on fintech stocks. For example, the Ark Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF +1.08%) focuses on companies involved in the fintech theme.

Well-known investor Cathie Wood actively manages the fund, which typically holds 35 to 55 stocks. Coinbase (7.3% of the fund's assets) and Circle Internet Group (3.9%) were the fund's second- and eighth-largest holdings as of late 2025. The ETF also has a rather high expense ratio of 0.75%.

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XRP Price Predictions: What Investors Should Expect in 2026 and Beyond

Interested in what XRP's stock price forecast will be in 2026 and 2030? Read on to see what we think and what others believe.

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Investing in Ripple FAQ

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About the Author

Matt DiLallo has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst specializing in covering dividend-paying companies, particularly in the energy and REIT sectors, since 2012. He also covers pre-IPO companies, ETFs, and other investing topics. He holds an MBA from Liberty University.

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@MatthewDiLallo

Matt DiLallo has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin and XRP. The Motley Fool recommends Coinbase Global. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Can You Buy Ripple Stock in 2026?

Key Points

IPO