VivoPower Makes Bold $100 Million Ripple Investment.

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VivoPower International PLC (VVPR) has unveiled plans to acquire $100 million worth of privately held shares in Ripple Labs, a move the company says makes it the first U.S.-listed firm to offer direct exposure to Ripple. The purchase is subject to approval from Ripple’s executive management and will be carried out through definitive agreements with existing Ripple shareholders.

According to VivoPower, the deal places an implied value of $0.47 on each XRP, Ripple’s digital currency, formally known as the XRP Ledger native token, which is significantly lower than current market prices. Ripple holds approximately 41 billion XRP, representing 41% of the total supply from the original 100 billion tokens created. This large reserve, alongside its various business ventures, keeps Ripple as a prominent player in the blockchain payments space.

Beyond XRP, Ripple has expanded into multiple sectors, operating the RLUSD stablecoin, the Hidden Road digital asset brokerage, and custody services via MetaCo and Standard Custody and Trust Company. These businesses have positioned Ripple as a key infrastructure provider in the digital finance ecosystem.

VivoPower’s strategy centers on acquiring Ripple shares at what it believes is a substantial discount. By purchasing shares at a weighted average valuation of about $19 billion, VivoPower estimates it is effectively acquiring XRP at an 86% discount compared to current market levels. Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Chin emphasized the strategic nature of the deal, stating, “The opportunity to acquire Ripple shares and materially average down the acquisition price per XRP is in line with our objective of building a sustainable long-term treasury model.”

The agreement ensures that VivoPower will hold direct legal title to the purchased Ripple shares, with its ownership officially recorded in Ripple’s shareholder registry. To safeguard its investment, the company is engaging BitGo for digital asset custody services and Nasdaq Private Market for securities infrastructure support.

Founded in 2014 and publicly listed on Nasdaq since 2016, the London-based VivoPower has traditionally focused on sustainable energy solutions. However, this transaction signals a significant pivot in its business model. The company describes its future direction as becoming an “XRP-focused digital asset enterprise,” reflecting a growing interest in blockchain-based opportunities among publicly traded firms.

By targeting Ripple itself rather than buying XRP directly on the open market, VivoPower aims to reduce exposure to price volatility while still gaining substantial indirect ownership of the cryptocurrency. This approach underscores a broader corporate trend toward investing in blockchain technology through equity stakes rather than speculative token purchases.

For VivoPower, this acquisition is not merely a financial play; it represents a long-term repositioning toward digital asset infrastructure, one that could reshape its trajectory in the years ahead.