Johannesburg, October 15, 2025 — Ripple has announced a major partnership with Absa Bank, one of Africa’s top financial institutions, to offer digital asset custody services in South Africa.
This collaboration makes Absa Ripple’s first major custody partner in Africa, expanding Ripple’s global reach across Europe, the Middle East, Asia‑Pacific, Latin America, and now Africa.
Through the partnership, Absa will use Ripple’s institutional‑grade custody technology to securely store and manage tokenized assets — including cryptocurrencies — for its clients.
“Africa is going through a major transformation in how value is stored and exchanged,” said Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa. “Partnering with Absa shows our commitment to helping African institutions safely enter the digital asset era.”
Absa’s Head of Digital Product for Custody, Robyn Lawson, added that Ripple’s technology enables the bank to offer secure and compliant digital asset services that meet the highest global standards.
The partnership comes as regulatory clarity and institutional adoption of blockchain technology continue to grow across Africa. Ripple’s infrastructure gives banks and financial firms the tools to launch, manage, and safeguard digital assets within a regulated framework.
Earlier this year, Ripple also expanded its African footprint through partnerships with Chipper Cash and introduced its USD‑backed stablecoin, RLUSD, to the continent.
According to Ripple’s 2025 New Value Report, 64% of finance leaders in the Middle East and Africa see faster payments and settlements as the main reason to adopt blockchain‑based currencies.
With over 60 regulatory licenses worldwide and more than a decade of experience, Ripple continues to position itself as a trusted infrastructure provider for the next generation of digital finance.