OpenPayd has announced a strategic partnership with Ripple to deliver a scalable, compliant, and efficient payment infrastructure connecting traditional and blockchain finance. The collaboration brings together OpenPayd’s fiat rails with Ripple’s cross-border blockchain payment network, expanding enterprise access to seamless money movement across EUR and GBP corridors.
Through the agreement, OpenPayd will support Ripple Payments with its real-time payment capabilities, multi-currency accounts, and virtual IBAN services. The infrastructure enables Ripple clients, including banks, fintechs, and crypto firms, to settle transactions faster and access on/off ramps across fiat and digital assets.
OpenPayd’s stablecoin infrastructure to support Ripple USD (RLUSD)
Iana Dimitrova, Chief Executive at OpenPayd, commented, “Ripple has long been a pioneer in blockchain based payments. By combining Ripple Payments with OpenPayd’s rail agnostic and fully interoperable fiat infrastructure, we are delivering a unified platform that bridges traditional finance and blockchain. This partnership enables businesses to move and manage money globally, access stablecoin liquidity at scale, and simplify cross border payments, treasury flows and dollar-based operations.”
A central component of the partnership is the expansion of OpenPayd’s stablecoin infrastructure to support Ripple USD (RLUSD), Ripple’s enterprise-grade USD-denominated stablecoin. OpenPayd will provide direct minting and burning services, giving businesses the ability to convert between fiat and RLUSD through a single API that also integrates account, payment, and trading functions.
Jack McDonald, SVP Stablecoins at Ripple, commented, “The future of global finance depends on seamless interoperability between traditional infrastructure and digital assets. Our collaboration with OpenPayd gives enterprises reliable access to RLUSD, combining the stability and compliance they expect with the connectivity they need. This is how we accelerate real-world adoption of stablecoins at scale.”
The partnership positions both firms at the intersection of growing enterprise demand for digital asset infrastructure and stablecoin-based financial services. Use cases include cross-border payments, global treasury management, and improved access to U.S. dollar liquidity.
Ripple Payments currently processes more than $70 billion in volume across 90+ payout markets, covering over 90 percent of the global FX market. RLUSD, backed by Ripple’s experience in regulatory engagement and blockchain integration, is designed for enterprise-grade compliance and utility.
Ripple applied for a banking license in the US
Ripple formally applied for a national banking license with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The application includes a request for a Federal Reserve master account through its subsidiary, Standard Custody & Trust Company, a move that would enable Ripple to hold RLUSD reserves directly with the central bank.
If approved, Ripple would become one of the few crypto-native firms to operate under a full national charter, joining Anchorage Digital, the only crypto firm to have secured such a license to date. Ripple’s RLUSD, a dollar-backed stablecoin launched in 2024, currently holds a market capitalization of approximately $470 million and is already regulated by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).
The dual-licensing effort places Ripple in direct competition with Circle, the issuer of USDC, which has also applied for a national trust bank charter. Approval from the OCC would allow Ripple to operate RLUSD beyond traditional banking hours and streamline stablecoin settlement through direct integration with the Federal Reserve. This would not only enhance operational efficiency but also potentially reduce systemic risks associated with reliance on intermediary banking partners.
The move comes on the heels of the recently passed GENIUS Act, a landmark piece of legislation that mandates federal bank licensing for stablecoin issuers and sets clear standards for reserves, audits, and risk management. By pursuing a charter, Ripple aims to preemptively comply with these new requirements and position itself as a leader in the next phase of regulatory-compliant digital finance.
