Ripple has secured regulatory approval in the United Kingdom, marking a further step in the company’s push to expand its presence in tightly regulated financial markets.
Key Takeaways:
- Ripple secured FCA registration and EMI authorization, expanding its regulated crypto and payments operations in the UK.
- The approvals position Ripple to scale payment services as the UK advances a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets.
- XRP rose modestly following the news, while Ripple also moves forward with US trust bank plans.
According to an update published Friday on the regulator’s register, Ripple’s UK subsidiary, Ripple Markets UK Ltd., has been registered with the Financial Conduct Authority under the country’s money laundering and counter-terrorist financing rules.
The registration allows the firm to carry out certain crypto-related activities in the UK, though it does not amount to full financial services authorization.
In a separate filing dated January 9, the FCA also showed that Ripple had obtained an Electronic Money Institution authorization through its UK arm.
The status enables Ripple to offer regulated payment and e-money services under the regulator’s supervision, strengthening its compliance credentials in one of the world’s largest financial centers.
The approval comes as the UK continues efforts to position itself as a global hub for digital assets.
Regulators have been consulting on new rules covering crypto trading platforms, lending, and staking, signaling a more structured approach to oversight.
Ripple is expected to use the authorization to scale its payments infrastructure in the UK and deepen relationships with banks, payment providers, and institutional clients operating in the region.
The news appeared to have a modest impact on market sentiment. XRP, the digital asset linked to Ripple’s payment network, traded around $2.1 at press time, up more than 10% over the past week, according to CoinGecko.
Last month, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency opened the doors of the federal banking system to a new wave of digital-asset firms, clearing five crypto companies, including Circle and Ripple, to launch national trust banks.
Circle and Ripple were among the applicants granted conditional approval to build national trust banks, a charter that allows them to custody assets and offer select banking services without taking deposits or issuing loans.
The entrants now have 18 months to raise capital, assemble staff and build compliant infrastructure before facing a final exam from the OCC.
Ripple’s RLUSD Wins Regulatory Green Light in Abu Dhabi
As reported, Ripple’s dollar-backed stablecoin RLUSD was cleared for institutional use in Abu Dhabi after receiving recognition as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token from the local regulator.
The approval allows licensed firms within Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to use RLUSD for regulated financial activities inside the free-zone financial center.
The green light was granted by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, which supervises ADGM. Under the rules, companies can deploy RLUSD if they meet requirements around reserves, transparency, and compliance.
The decision strengthens Ripple’s expansion across the UAE. In recent months, the company secured approvals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and onboarded partners including Zand Bank and Mamo.
As reported, Ripple is also weighing whether to bring staking to the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a move that would push the decade-old blockchain deeper into the rapidly expanding world of decentralized finance.
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