In a pivotal shift following its long-standing regulatory battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ripple is accelerating its global footprint—with the Middle East emerging as a strategic hub for innovation, investment, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. As Dubai embraces blockchain-based infrastructure and institutional capital from Gulf investors flows into XRP, Ripple is repositioning itself not just as a cross-border payments pioneer but as a full-stack financial technology enabler.
This transformation marks a new chapter for the company, one where regulatory clarity, technological advancement, and strategic partnerships converge to unlock scalable use cases across government projects, stablecoin ecosystems, and institutional-grade services.
Dubai Adopts XRP Ledger for Government-Led Real Estate Tokenization
On May 26, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) announced a landmark initiative: the launch of PRYPCO, the Middle East’s first government-backed real estate tokenization project. Built on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) through asset tokenization platform Ctrl Alt, PRYPCO aims to democratize property investment by allowing fractional ownership starting at just AED 2,000 (approximately $545).
Backed by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and the Dubai Foundation for the Future, this initiative aligns with Dubai’s Real Estate 2033 Strategy, which targets a $16.3 billion tokenized real estate market within the next decade. Ctrl Alt, now licensed by VARA as both broker and issuer, has already tokenized nearly $295 million in assets—laying early groundwork for broader adoption.
👉 Discover how blockchain is reshaping real estate investment in emerging markets.
The choice of XRPL as the underlying blockchain underscores Ripple’s growing influence in public-sector blockchain deployment. Unlike energy-intensive proof-of-work chains, XRPL uses the Ripple Protocol Consensus Algorithm (RPCA)—a sustainable, mining-free mechanism that enables near-instant transaction settlement with minimal environmental impact.
Beyond real estate, XRPL is expanding its role in multi-currency stablecoin infrastructure. In 2025, SG-FORGE plans to list EURCV, a euro-pegged stablecoin, on XRPL. Similarly, Brazil’s Braza Group will launch BBRL, a real-pegged stablecoin, further solidifying XRPL’s vision as a global multi-asset tokenization layer.
Institutional Confidence in XRP Grows: NASDAQ-Listed Firm Allocates $121M with Saudi Prince Leading Investment
On May 29, VivoPower International (VVPR), a NASDAQ-listed energy solutions provider, announced a $121 million private placement aimed at building a crypto reserve strategy centered on **XRP**. Of that sum, **$100 million was led by Saudi Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Abdulaziz Al Saud**, signaling strong confidence from Middle Eastern sovereign capital in Ripple’s ecosystem.
The investment includes 20 million shares issued at $6.05 each and brings former SBI Ripple Asia executive Adam Traidman on board as chairman of the advisory board—highlighting deepening ties between Ripple and institutional finance leaders in Asia and the Gulf.
This move reflects a broader trend: publicly traded companies are increasingly turning to digital assets not just for speculation, but as strategic treasury reserves. By choosing XRP—a high-throughput, low-cost asset with growing utility in payments and DeFi—VivoPower positions itself at the forefront of this financial evolution.
Ripple Strengthens Middle East Foothold with Regulatory Licenses and Strategic Acquisitions
Ripple’s focus on the Middle East is neither sudden nor superficial. The company established its regional headquarters in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in November 2020, anticipating regulatory uncertainty in the U.S. That foresight proved prescient when, just a month later, the SEC filed charges against Ripple executives over unregistered securities offerings via XRP sales.
Fast forward to 2025, and Ripple has transformed that challenge into opportunity. In March, it secured a regulatory license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)—becoming DIFC’s first compliant blockchain payment provider. This milestone enabled Ripple to officially launch regulated cross-border payment services across the UAE.
Further cementing its presence, Ripple partnered with Zand Bank, a UAE digital bank, and fintech firm Mamo to integrate Ripple’s payment rails into their financial stacks. These integrations support 24/7 cross-border settlements and pave the way for Zand Bank’s planned AED-pegged stablecoin—an innovation that could boost local digital transaction efficiency.
RLUSD Powers DeFi Growth and Cross-Border Utility
At the heart of Ripple’s expanding ecosystem is RLUSD, its U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin. RLUSD isn’t just another digital dollar—it’s engineered for performance and interoperability.
On Aave, RLUSD offered annualized yields between 8%–9%, quickly attracting around $150 million in deposits. On May 29, it went live on Euler Finance, where users can now lend, borrow, and collateralize RLUSD—with deposit APY reaching 22.05% at peak demand.
Ripple has also partnered with Chainlink to enhance RLUSD’s utility in decentralized finance (DeFi), while collaborations with Revolut and Zero Hash extend its reach into mainstream financial platforms. Additionally, RLUSD is integrated into Ripple Payments, enabling real-time cross-border transactions for clients like BKK Forex and iSend.
👉 See how next-gen stablecoins are redefining yield and liquidity in global finance.
Acquisition of Hidden Road: Building a Bridge Between TradFi and DeFi
One of Ripple’s boldest moves came on April 8: the announcement of a $1.25 billion acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road. This all-cash, XRP, and equity deal aims to bring institutional trading infrastructure in-house—positioning Ripple as a one-stop platform for traditional finance (TradFi) institutions entering crypto.
CEO Brad Garlinghouse emphasized that the acquisition ensures Ripple has “the infrastructure in place to attract and scale to a larger community.” Once completed, Ripple will inject billions in capital to scale Hidden Road’s operations, including integrating RLUSD as collateral and exploring XRP Ledger-based settlement improvements.
Hidden Road has already received In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Abu Dhabi Global Market Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) to operate clearing and prime brokerage services. It plans to open an office in Abu Dhabi led by partner James Stickland—and may see members of the Abu Dhabi royal family join its local board post-approval.
Can 'Tokenization-as-a-Service' Become Ripple’s Killer App?
Legal expert John Deaton argues that Ripple’s acquisition strategy goes beyond expansion—it's about convergence. With Ripple Custody, its payment network, stablecoins like RLUSD, and the XRP Ledger’s RWA capabilities, Ripple is assembling a complete Tokenization-as-a-Service (TaaS) stack.
This model allows banks and asset managers to tokenize securities, commodities, or real estate—and manage them seamlessly across issuance, collateralization, clearing, and secondary trading—all on a single, interoperable blockchain layer.
According to Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the digital asset custody market could surpass $16 trillion by 2030. Ripple is positioning itself to capture a significant share by offering not just tools, but end-to-end compliance-ready infrastructure.
Regulatory Relief Fuels Momentum: SEC Settlement Paves Way for Global Growth
The turning point came on May 9, when Ripple settled with the SEC—agreeing to pay a $50 million fine and lifting part of the prior restrictions. The SEC dropped its appeal of earlier rulings, effectively ending a five-year legal standoff.
Building on this momentum, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty submitted a supplemental filing urging regulators to clarify that most crypto assets—including XRP—should not be classified as securities in secondary markets. He also advocated for a “safe harbor” mechanism to guide compliant innovation.
Meanwhile, the SEC has begun reviewing WisdomTree’s application for an XRP spot ETF via Cboe BZX Exchange—a potential catalyst for broader retail access and institutional inflows if approved.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is XRP considered a security after the SEC settlement?
A: While the settlement didn’t issue a blanket exemption, U.S. courts previously ruled that XRP is not inherently a security when sold to retail investors. Ripple continues advocating for clearer regulatory distinctions between utility tokens and securities.
Q: What makes the XRP Ledger suitable for asset tokenization?
A: XRPL offers fast settlement (3–5 seconds), low fees (<$0.01), energy efficiency via RPCA consensus, native smart contract capabilities (Hooks upgrade), and strong support for stablecoins and NFTs—making it ideal for RWA projects.
Q: How does Ripple plan to integrate DeFi with traditional finance?
A: Through its TaaS model—combining Ripple Custody, RLUSD stablecoin, cross-border payments, and the Hidden Road acquisition—Ripple provides institutions with compliant pathways to tokenize assets and access DeFi liquidity.
Q: Why is Dubai important for Ripple’s strategy?
A: Dubai offers clear crypto regulations through VARA and DFSA, strong government backing for blockchain adoption, and proximity to wealthy Gulf investors—making it an ideal launchpad for global financial innovation.
Q: Could an XRP ETF be approved soon?
A: The SEC has initiated formal review of WisdomTree’s XRP ETF proposal—a positive sign—but approval timelines remain uncertain due to ongoing regulatory caution around crypto spot ETFs.
Q: What role does RLUSD play in Ripple’s ecosystem?
A: RLUSD serves as a yield-generating stablecoin across DeFi platforms like Aave and Euler Finance while being used in cross-border payments via Ripple Payments—bridging liquidity between traditional finance and blockchain applications.
With regulatory headwinds easing and strategic momentum building across the Middle East, Ripple is no longer playing defense—it’s defining the future of asset tokenization. As governments digitize economies and institutions seek efficient on-chain solutions, XRPL stands ready as a scalable, sustainable foundation for global finance.