Ripple and DriveWealth have announced a partnership to integrate digital asset infrastructure into global investing, covering stablecoin settlement, cross-border payments, custody and institutional financing. Announced on October 14, 2026, the agreement aims to modernize how money moves through DriveWealth’s brokerage infrastructure and help the company expand its use of digital financial rails.
The partnership addresses a mismatch between trading hours and the systems used to fund investments. U.S. equities now settle on a T+1 basis, while international transfers can take longer, potentially leaving capital tied up while institutions wait for funds to arrive. Ripple and DriveWealth want to reduce these delays by connecting traditional brokerage services with stablecoins and blockchain-based payment infrastructure.
The companies plan to integrate Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) for settlement, initially targeting Europe before expanding to the United States. The arrangement also includes Ripple Payments, digital asset custody and discussions around equity financing through Ripple Prime. The announcement describes a broad collaboration, although not every component is already operational.
RLUSD and Ripple Payments Target Faster Brokerage Funding
DriveWealth plans to use Ripple’s stablecoin infrastructure to support settlement through RLUSD on the XRP Ledger. The integration will also use Ripple’s minting and burning capabilities, which support the issuance and redemption processes for the stablecoin. Europe is the initial focus, with a U.S. expansion planned for a later stage.
For brokerage clients, the intended benefit is faster access to funds. DriveWealth says clients will be able to fund and manage collateral accounts using stablecoins that convert to cash in near real time, rather than relying exclusively on bank wires. If implemented as described, this could help international customers move capital outside conventional banking transfer windows and make funds available when markets are active.
Ripple Payments is another part of the agreement. DriveWealth is integrating the service to support cross-border payment acceptance from its global partners, with the aim of streamlining how funds enter its brokerage platform. This could be relevant to fintech companies and financial institutions serving customers in multiple countries, where payment timing and funding requirements can complicate investment access.
The companies also plan to connect DriveWealth’s treasury and custody infrastructure to Ripple’s systems. Their stated objective is to give clients a consolidated view of holdings across dollars, stablecoins and cryptocurrencies, with the ability to move between them as needed. DriveWealth’s announcement presents this as part of a broader effort to reduce fragmentation between traditional financial accounts and digital assets.
DriveWealth Chief Executive Officer Naureen Hassan said the company had already enabled 24/5 trading and now wanted funding capabilities that better matched that availability. The partnership is intended to extend funding and custody services to stablecoins and digital assets, potentially reducing the time capital sits idle overnight or over weekends. However, 24/5 trading does not mean that every payment, settlement or asset transfer will operate continuously without restrictions.
Custody and Ripple Prime Expand the Institutional Partnership
Beyond settlement and payments, DriveWealth is working with Ripple to support its digital asset custody requirements in Europe, with plans to expand into additional markets over time. Custody infrastructure is important for institutions that need systems to safeguard and manage digital assets while meeting operational and regulatory requirements. The announcement does not specify a timetable for the planned geographic expansion.
The partnership also includes discussions about equity financing through Ripple Prime’s Delta One business. Ripple Prime offers institutional capabilities across U.S. equities and equity derivatives, creating a potential connection between blockchain-based financial infrastructure and conventional securities markets. The companies described this area as an opportunity they are exploring, rather than announcing a completed financing product or launch.
DriveWealth provides brokerage-as-a-service infrastructure that enables fintech companies, digital wallets and financial institutions to offer access to U.S. markets. The company says it supports more than 100 partners globally. Integrating Ripple’s payment, stablecoin and custody services could allow some of these partners to access additional digital asset capabilities through existing brokerage infrastructure, subject to implementation and applicable regulations.
Ripple brings its stablecoin and blockchain products, alongside a regulatory footprint the company says spans more than 85 licenses. Senior Vice President of Stablecoins Jack McDonald said the discussions began with cross-border settlement but expanded to include trading, custody and related services. The companies are scheduled to discuss the partnership during a fireside chat at Ripple Swell on October 28 in New York City.
For XRP Ledger users, the announced RLUSD settlement integration is a concrete area to watch because it places the network within a planned institutional brokerage workflow. However, the release does not announce a new requirement for DriveWealth customers to buy or hold XRP. RLUSD is a separate stablecoin, and the companies have not disclosed expected transaction volumes, cost savings or a firm launch date for each integration. The partnership’s significance will ultimately depend on how the planned services are deployed and adopted across DriveWealth’s network.
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