Ripple Labs is growing its presence in the Middle East through a new partnership with Bahrain Fintech Bay (BFB). The partnership aims to make Bahrain a leading center for digital finance in the region and promote Ripple’s U.S. dollar‑backed stablecoin, RLUSD.
A Push for Digital Transformation in the Gulf
In its announcement, Ripple said the partnership will focus on real‑world blockchain use cases. This includes cross‑border payments, tokenization, stablecoins, and digital asset management. Through training, startup programs, and community events, the two groups want to help banks and startups understand how blockchain works.
The two entities aim to give them the tools to start using the technology in their work. Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, highlighted Bahrain’s early efforts in adopting blockchain regulation and digital assets. He said the country has shown strong support for innovation in the financial sector. Ripple sees this as an opportunity to deepen its presence in the region.
The company plans to work with Fintech Bay to grow Bahrain’s fintech sector. Later, it hopes to bring its digital asset custody and RLUSD stablecoin services to local banks and other financial institutions.
Ripple’s Expanding Global Presence
Ripple’s partnership with Fintech Bay comes as part of its broader global expansion strategy. The company currently holds over 60 regulatory licenses and registrations worldwide, including approval from Dubai’s DFSA in March 2025.
Ripple is also participating in Fintech Forward 2025, an Economist Impact event hosted in Bahrain on October 8–9. The event will bring together global regulators, fintech leaders, and bankers to discuss the evolution of digital finance.
In the United Arab Emirates, Ripple has partnered with Ctrl Alt to modernize real estate transactions using the XRP Ledger. This allows property title deeds to be securely managed on the blockchain, improving efficiency, transparency, and flexibility.
Global Rollout of RLUSD
Beyond the Middle East, Ripple is rapidly expanding its RLUSD stablecoin initiative. In Africa, the company has teamed up with major payment providers like Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card. The goal is to make financial access easier and improve cross‑border payments across the continent.
Meanwhile, in Europe, Ripple is using Luxembourg as its base for launching RLUSD under the EU’s MiCA regulatory framework. The company plans to position RLUSD as a fully compliant settlement option for institutional clients through Ripple Payments Europe SA.