Ripple has entered a strategic partnership with DriveWealth, a global provider of Brokerage-as-a-Service technology, to bring RLUSD stablecoin settlement and payments infrastructure to an international network of financial partners. DriveWealth serves as a technology backbone for more than 100 fintech platforms and financial institutions, offering white-label brokerage services to enable investment access without requiring firms to develop their own infrastructure.
RLUSD stablecoin integration with brokerage operations
The collaboration will introduce RLUSD stablecoin-based settlement on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), starting in Europe with plans for future expansion into the US market. According to Ripple, the integration targets institutional finance and aims to simplify how fintechs, digital wallets and financial institutions manage payment and collateral flows.
With this partnership, DriveWealth clients may gain the capability to fund and manage collateral accounts using RLUSD stablecoins, which can be rapidly converted to cash. The infrastructure leverages the digital asset minting and redemption features of Ripple’s ecosystem, potentially streamlining operations and improving liquidity management for participating partners.
Standard Chartered, a multinational bank, recently launched custody services for RLUSD, further highlighting growing institutional use of Ripple’s stablecoin technology.
Despite the media attention, DriveWealth and Ripple have not revealed the list of partners that will immediately use the RLUSD settlement option. There were no transaction volume figures or a defined launch date announced.
Mini dictionary: DriveWealth is a US-based fintech firm specializing in API-driven brokerage infrastructure, enabling its clients to offer global investment access without building regulatory and technical systems from scratch.
DriveWealth will enable stablecoin-based funding and settlement solutions on a network of over 100 brokerage partners worldwide, building a link between the blockchain and traditional equities infrastructure.
Potential impact on stock settlement efficiency
One of the core challenges for global brokerage operations relates to slow processing times for cross-border funding. While US equities now settle under a T+1 cycle, requiring trades to clear one business day after execution, international bank transfers may still lag due to time zone differences and the legacy payment system.
DriveWealth already offers its platform partners access to extended trading hours; however, the movement of cash across borders remains a constraint. RLUSD stablecoin transactions could allow for real-time fund transfers, unrestricted by conventional banking hours.
This structure reflects broader trends in institutional finance, where digital assets are increasingly used to facilitate rapid collateral movement and transaction settlement. Nonetheless, instant funding via RLUSD does not replace the regulatory clearing and settlement required for US stock transactions, but rather focuses on cash management before and after trades.
While rapid stablecoin funding increases efficiency, the regulated clearing process for US equities will continue to operate separately from blockchain-based collateral flows.
Expanding Ripple Prime’s digital asset services
Beyond payments and collateral, the Ripple and DriveWealth partnership extends into digital asset custody and equity financing services. Ripple Prime—the institutional division of Ripple—aims to enhance market access for large clients by providing secure storage for digital assets and potential financing via equity-linked products.
This development follows DriveWealth’s acquisition of brokerage and market infrastructure player Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, which expanded its capabilities in equity and derivative product offerings.
Ripple is also working to expand its XRPL wallet functionality, which helps integrate digital asset payments into broader financial applications. For $XRP holders, the direct impact of this deal on token demand remains uncertain, as transaction fees and account reserves on XRPL will continue to require XRP, but major inflows or volumes have not been disclosed.
Further details regarding the rollout, partner adoption, and customer usage may be revealed at Ripple Swell, an industry event scheduled in New York on October 28.
