Cross River Bank has integrated RLUSD on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) into its proprietary Core Operating System (COS), enabling fintech firms to access RLUSD settlements alongside ACH, wire transfers, and real-time payments through a single API connection. This development positions RLUSD as a direct settlement option within the banking infrastructure already used by Cross River’s fintech partners.
New settlement rail for fintechs
With this integration, fintechs connected to Cross River’s COS platform can now move between U.S. dollars and RLUSD directly. RLUSD, a stablecoin backed on a 1:1 basis by U.S. dollars, is issued on the XRP Ledger and supports real-time, low-cost settlement. Transactions on the XRPL are processed within three to five seconds, allowing for 24/7 settlement at minimal fees.
The enhanced system supports intraday settlement for both issuers and acquirers, helping to significantly reduce latency. This improvement is especially relevant for payment companies seeking immediate, secure, and regulated settlement without managing multiple vendors or blockchain systems.
Adam Goller, Head of Fintech Banking at Cross River, explained that this partnership removes complexity and streamlines payments, making it possible for fintechs to access all payment options, including RLUSD, through a single system.
Mini dictionary: Cross River Bank is a US-based financial institution specializing in technology-driven banking and payment solutions, serving both fintech companies and enterprises by providing regulated access to financial infrastructure.
XRP Ledger’s role and technical features
According to XRPL validator Vet, integrating RLUSD on the XRPL marks a major step for XRP’s role as a bridge asset. The XRPL supports functions such as tokenization, trust lines, and account reserves, features that contribute to its efficiency and ability to serve as a settlement layer.
The ledger’s decentralized exchange also leverages an autobridging mechanism powered by XRP, which automatically provides liquidity between different token pairs. As more assets are issued on the XRPL, activity and demand for XRP are expected to grow in tandem.
Vet described the XRPL as a “purpose-built settlement machine,” adding that RLUSD’s integration opens the door for broader network usage and allows the ledger to manage the complexity of settlement autonomously.
Mini dictionary: XRPL (XRP Ledger) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform developed to enable fast, low-cost, and reliable cross-border payments and token issuance, using XRP as its native currency.
Adoption, scale, and industry impact
RLUSD’s market capitalization has surpassed $2.5 billion, with more than $1 billion currently circulating on the XRP Ledger. To date, the XRPL network has settled over $1.3 trillion in value. RippleX, a division of Ripple dedicated to XRPL development, highlighted Cross River’s adoption as a major opportunity for advancing regulated blockchain payments in banking.
Markus Infanger, SVP of RippleX at Ripple, noted that Cross River’s deployment of RLUSD and the XRPL’s settlement capabilities demonstrates how regulated financial systems are increasingly leveraging blockchain for efficiency and scale.
The RLUSD integration is currently live only in a limited number of U.S. states. Ripple and Cross River have emphasized that this initiative creates shared infrastructure allowing RLUSD and traditional U.S. dollar transactions to coexist within a regulated framework.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| RLUSD total market cap | $2.5 billion |
| RLUSD supply on XRPL | $1 billion |
| Value settled on XRPL | $1.3 trillion |
For validators and participants in the XRPL ecosystem, the Cross River integration provides a live example of regulated, real-time settlement running at scale via public blockchain technology.
