Ripple Acquires Standard Custody to Bolster Crypto Asset Services and Plans USD-Pegged Stablecoin Launch

• Ripple, a leading blockchain payment company, has made a substantial move in the crypto custody space.
• The acquisition of Standard Custody and Trust Company significantly enhances Ripple’s ability to offer crypto asset services.
• This acquisition underscores Ripple’s ambition to integrate crypto assets into the global financial system.

Ripple, a leading blockchain payments company, has acquired Standard Custody and Trust Company, bolstering its crypto asset services and highlighting its ambitions to integrate these assets into the global financial system.

Major Acquisition: Ripple Secures Standard Custody and Trust Company

Standard Custody and Trust Company, renowned for its secure, institutional-grade custody services, is now part of Ripple. This acquisition brings a specialized custody company regulated by the New York Financial Services Department into Ripple’s portfolio. This addition complements Ripple’s extensive regulatory achievements, including nearly 40 state money transfer licenses across the U.S., a Major Payment Institution License from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration from the Central Bank of Ireland.

The acquisition aligns with Ripple’s strategy to advance its blockchain and crypto asset-powered infrastructure solutions for institutions. These solutions enable corporate clients to tokenize, store, move, and transfer value more efficiently.

Ripple Explores New Stablecoin Opportunities

Beyond this acquisition, Ripple is paving the way for new offerings, including a forthcoming U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between blockchain technology and traditional finance, meeting the growing demand for reliable and stable digital currencies.

Drawing on its extensive experience in financial solutions, Ripple plans to integrate this stablecoin into the XRP Ledger. This integration is expected to enhance liquidity on the Ledger’s decentralized exchange (DEX) and broaden financial use cases for developers, users, and businesses.

A notable highlight of the acquisition is the appointment of Standard Custody’s CEO, Jack McDonald, as Senior Vice President of Stablecoin at Ripple. McDonald’s expertise and leadership are anticipated to be instrumental in guiding Ripple’s stablecoin initiatives. He will concurrently continue his role as CEO of Standard Custody.

Expansion in Asia: XRP Ledger Fund for Japan and Korea

In a move to bolster innovation and utility in the high-demand Asia-Pacific region, Ripple has launched the XRP Ledger Japan and Korea Fund. This dedicated fund aims to stimulate the use of XRP Ledger (XRPL) by focusing on corporate partnerships, developer grants, venture investments, and community growth. Companies, startups, developers, community members, and other entities can apply for and benefit from the fund. Ripple is set to provide further details about the application process for the dynamic markets of Japan and Korea shortly.

The Japan and Korea Fund is part of Ripple’s broader initiative, which includes a 1 billion XRP commitment to XRPL development and expansion through programs like XRP Grants and the XRPL Accelerator. By collaborating with leading companies in Japan and Korea, the fund aims to integrate XRP Ledger usage and explore institutional use cases across various industries. Despite recent market activities where XRP saw a 2.5% decline, this trend is relatively moderate, considering the overall market downturn.

Conclusion

Ripple’s acquisition of Standard Custody and Trust Company significantly enhances its capacity to offer secure crypto asset services, aligning with its broader strategy to integrate blockchain technology into institutional infrastructure. The exploration of stablecoin solutions and the establishment of the XRP Ledger Japan and Korea Fund reflect Ripple’s commitment to innovation and market expansion. These strategic moves provide Ripple with a robust foundation to drive further growth and development in the global financial landscape.