Key State Licences Strengthen Ripple’s Payments Network Ahead of RLUSD Adoption

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Ripple has announced significant developments in its cross-border payments business at the start of 2025, including new regulatory licences and a focus on integrating its enterprise-grade stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), into its payment services. The announcement comes as digital asset adoption continues to evolve, with financial institutions exploring blockchain technology to optimise efficiency and diversify portfolios.

The company recently obtained Money Transmitter Licences (MTLs) in New York and Texas, two states recognised for their regulatory complexity and demand for real-time global payments. These additions bring Ripple’s total number of MTLs in the United States to over 50. MTLs enable Ripple to offer licensed payment solutions that manage cross-border transactions from start to finish, providing a compliant infrastructure for financial institutions and crypto businesses.

Globally, Ripple now holds more than 60 licences, including registrations and approvals in jurisdictions such as Singapore, Ireland, and the Cayman Islands. This global licensing framework is designed to support the company’s payment services in a regulatory-compliant manner, with the aim of offering a seamless global payment experience.

Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, a USD-denominated digital asset, is set to be integrated into the Ripple Payments platform later this year. The company has highlighted RLUSD as an enterprise-grade solution that prioritises compliance, trust, and utility, which it expects will meet growing market demand for stablecoins in cross-border payment flows. Ripple has noted increasing interest in stablecoins as part of broader adoption trends in digital assets and blockchain technology.

Joanie Xie, Managing Director of North America at Ripple, pointed to growing interest from both financial institutions and crypto businesses. “With years of experience in the digital asset space, Ripple is working to support companies seeking faster, cost-efficient, and continuous cross-border payments,” she said.

In 2024, Ripple’s payments business processed $70 billion in transaction volume, with services available in over 90 markets worldwide. The company has also added several North American clients, including Bancoli, CambioReal, and AgilityFx, to its payment network.

Meanwhile, the broader regulatory landscape in the United States is shifting. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently rescinded SAB 121, a policy that had placed restrictive requirements on banks offering digital asset custody services. The move follows bipartisan support in Congress to overturn the rule, reflecting an increasing focus on creating an environment conducive to innovation in digital assets.

Ripple has stated that the integration of RLUSD into its payment solutions is a key priority, viewing stablecoins as a foundational component of the evolving digital payments ecosystem. As the financial sector explores new technologies such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, Ripple sees opportunities for real-world applications like asset tokenisation to further enhance the utility and accessibility of financial instruments.

Looking ahead, Ripple plans to continue expanding its US operations, with domestic hiring doubling compared to 2023. The company has recently opened larger offices in San Francisco and New York to accommodate this growth. With these developments, Ripple is positioning itself to play an ongoing role in the evolution of cross-border payments and the adoption of stablecoins in financial markets.

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