Ripple has joined forces with Cross River Bank to integrate RLUSD, its U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, into the bank’s core operating system. This partnership aims to enhance institutional payment options by embedding blockchain-based RLUSD settlements into existing banking infrastructure.
Stablecoin integration targets seamless payments
Cross River Bank, a U.S.-based financial institution known for providing banking services to fintech companies, announced the RLUSD integration on October 15. The move will allow businesses to settle payments at any time and transfer funds between traditional payment networks and blockchain environments.
RLUSD is set to become accessible through Cross River’s proprietary Core Operating System. Transactions will gain support for the XRP Ledger, Ripple’s public blockchain protocol that enables high-speed, low-cost payments.
Businesses and fintech firms will be able to connect to RLUSD using a single API, eliminating the need to build their own blockchain infrastructure. This streamlines access to digital dollar payments for companies handling cross-border or real-time transactions.
Ripple emphasized in its public statement that RLUSD payments are now being integrated into the banking systems fintechs already rely on for their operations. The company also highlighted the benefit of 24/7 settlements and improved flexibility for intraday payment cycles.
RLUSD payments are now being embedded within the banking infrastructure fintech companies use daily, offering round-the-clock settlement and expanded flexibility for intraday payments.
According to Ripple, this integration will allow companies to handle treasury flows, cross-border transactions, and various payment networks without the complexity of multiple providers.
Broader payment capabilities for fintechs
Combining RLUSD with Cross River’s established infrastructure introduces a new layer of interoperability for payment networks. Issuers and acquirers can handle intraday settlements more flexibly, leveraging both blockchain and conventional channels.
The new integration makes it possible to move funds between RLUSD and traditional U.S. dollars, supporting transfers by ways such as Automated Clearing House (ACH), wire transfers, and real-time payments—all through one banking and API platform.
This approach allows fintech companies to rapidly add stablecoin payment options to their services without building out new systems from scratch, helping them streamline operations for domestic and cross-border payments.
Adam Goller, Head of Fintech Banking at Cross River, noted that the integration will reduce reliance on multiple partners and simplify cross-border money movement.
Markus Infanger, Senior Vice President at RippleX, underlined the importance of bringing stablecoin solutions directly into banking frameworks, rather than treating them as siloed financial products.
RLUSD and the importance of the XRP Ledger
RLUSD is Ripple’s stablecoin, each unit backed by cash, U.S. Treasury bills, and other liquid assets to guarantee a 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar. Ripple maintains regular third-party attestations of these reserves.
The integration utilizes the XRP Ledger, a decentralized public blockchain that supports rapid and continuous transaction processing. On average, transactions on the XRPL finalize in three to five seconds and can be executed at any time of day.
By linking RLUSD to established banking platforms via the XRP Ledger, the partnership aims to make blockchain-based settlements accessible to businesses already using conventional financial tools. This could be particularly useful for fintech firms engaged in cross-border trade, merchant payments, and complex treasury operations.
Mini dictionary: Cross River Bank is a U.S. commercial bank specializing in real-time, API-based banking solutions for fintech companies. The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a public and decentralized blockchain platform designed for fast, low-fee digital asset transfer and settlement.
Building on prior stablecoin initiatives
Cross River previously launched a stablecoin payments service in November 2025, tying digital currencies into its real-time banking system to link traditional and blockchain-based transactions.
This original platform was designed to support network settlement, merchant payouts, on- and off-ramp functionalities, and streamlined treasury management. RLUSD’s addition expands the suite of payment options available to companies operating on Cross River’s network.
Recent figures from Cross River’s latest announcement indicate RLUSD’s market cap has surpassed $2.5 billion, with over $1 billion in RLUSD issued on the XRP Ledger. This points to a growing role for RLUSD in institutional payments and settlements.
| Metric | RLUSD Total | Issued on XRPL |
|---|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | $2.5 billion | $1 billion |
The impact of this integration will depend on the rate at which fintechs and payment networks adopt it. Currently, the service is active in only a limited set of U.S. states, so national coverage has yet to be achieved.
The expansion of RLUSD within Cross River’s core payment infrastructure aims to make blockchain settlement more accessible and efficient for a wide array of fintech partners, but actual adoption will reveal its long-term significance.
Companies already using Cross River’s banking solutions may gain a streamlined route to stablecoin settlements, reducing complexity and potentially improving settlement speed and flexibility.
