On March 13, 2025, San Francisco-based blockchain technology firm, Ripple, secured a groundbreaking regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).
This makes Ripple the first blockchain payments provider licensed in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC), unlocking fully regulated cross-border cryptocurrency transactions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) positioning Ripple to capitalize on a $40 billion cross-border payments market in the UAE, according to World Bank data.
Founded in 2012, Ripple specializes in providing enterprise-grade payment solutions, enabling financial institutions and businesses to process faster, cheaper, and more transparent transactions using blockchain technology.
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This DFSA approval is Ripple’s first license in the Middle East, reinforcing its global commitment to regulatory compliance and its strategic focus on expanding in high-growth regions. Businesses in the UAE can now access Ripple’s flagship payments product, which prioritizes seamless compliance while leveraging digital assets for real-world utility.
Ripple’s CEO weighs in on approval in UAE
Brad Garlinghouse, Ripple’s CEO, hailed the development as a turning point:
“We’re witnessing unprecedented growth in the crypto industry, fueled by clearer regulations and rising institutional adoption. The UAE’s proactive approach to fostering tech and crypto innovation positions it to reap significant benefits.”
The approval also underscores Ripple’s broader mission to bridge traditional finance and blockchain. The company’s technology powers instant cross-border settlements, a stark improvement over traditional banking systems that often take days to clear. This utility is expected to accelerate stablecoin adoption in the UAE, with Ripple’s recently launched RLUSD stablecoin already surpassing a $100 million market cap since its debut on global exchanges in late December 2024.
Impact on XRP’s price
Central to Ripple’s ecosystem is XRP, a cryptocurrency designed to facilitate rapid and cost-effective international transfers. Unlike common misconceptions, Ripple does not own or control XRP. Instead, XRP was created by Ripple’s founders, Chris Larsen, Jed McCaleb, and others, before the company’s inception, with a fixed supply of 100 billion tokens.
Ripple holds a significant portion of XRP in escrow to support its payment solutions, releasing it periodically to enhance liquidity and adoption. The XRP Ledger, an open-source, decentralized blockchain, operates independently of Ripple, allowing anyone to use it for transactions.
Despite Ripple’s regulatory win, XRP’s price reaction has been subdued. As of March 13, the token trades at $2.25, up 2.34% in the past 24 hours. However, it’s down 12.56% over the last seven days, pulling back from a weekly high of $2.61.
Analysts suggest that while Ripple’s expansion boosts XRP’s utility case, broader market dynamics continue to dictate its short-term performance.
Featured image via Shutterstock
