Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse emphasized the company's strategic acquisitions aimed at enhancing the XRP ecosystem during a speech at The Economic Club of New York. Garlinghouse highlighted that Ripple's recent acquisitions, including prime broker Hidden Road and treasury software provider GTreasury, are designed to strengthen infrastructure and improve utility for XRP and the XRP Ledger (XRPL). He noted that these moves are aligned with long-term growth and are crucial for boosting on-chain liquidity, benefiting developers and institutions. Garlinghouse also discussed Ripple's bank-first strategy, which positions the company as a key infrastructure provider for global cross-border payments. By targeting banks as primary customers, Ripple aims to integrate blockchain technology with traditional financial services, thereby reaching a broader audience. Additionally, Garlinghouse stressed the need for regulatory clarity to facilitate greater institutional participation in digital assets, which he believes will accelerate adoption across global markets.