Ripple has announced that the Swell 2026 event in New York will bring together senior leaders from major financial institutions, including BNY, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), TD Securities, and Robinhood. The conference, set to attract approximately 1,500 participants, will for the first time integrate Swell, the Apex summit focused on XRP Ledger technology, and UBRI Connect, an academic blockchain initiative, into a single event.
Prominent Financial Leaders to Discuss Industry Transformation
The event’s guest list reflects Ripple’s ambition to strengthen connections across various areas of traditional and digital finance. Each institution is positioned to address distinct elements such as custody, trading, liquidity, stablecoins, tokenized securities, and broad consumer access.
Representing Bank of New York Mellon (BNY), Laide Majiyagbe is scheduled to lead a discussion on how tokenized money-market funds, stablecoins, liquidity, and settlement innovations are influencing institutional markets. This collaboration between Ripple and BNY has moved beyond discussion; BNY was chosen as the primary custodian for RLUSD reserves, with this arrangement beginning in 2025.
Ripple’s RLUSD reserves have recently grown to about $2.53 billion, with a circulating supply now over $2.4 billion, enhancing the importance of BNY’s custodial role.
Ripple aims to connect diverse sectors of finance, from custody and stablecoins to trading, onchain securities, and consumer access, by assembling industry leaders from global banks, exchanges, and fintech platforms.
ICE, a global operator of financial exchanges and clearing houses and parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, adds perspective on market infrastructure. Michael Blaugrund, ICE’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and a former NYSE Chief Operating Officer, will speak on institutional adoption of tokenized equities, digital funds, and collateral management.
Mini dictionary: RLUSD, acronym for Ripple Liquidity USD, is Ripple’s institutional-grade stablecoin designed for settlement and liquidity purposes in digital asset markets.
TD Securities and Robinhood Extend the Conversation
TD Securities, a Canadian investment bank and capital markets firm, will also participate through Elizabeth St-Onge, who is set to join a panel exploring the future of digital currency models. The discussion will consider whether market dominance will rest with single-issuer stablecoins or consortium-driven approaches.
Ripple’s RLUSD has become increasingly embedded in institutional liquidity solutions, including payments, tokenized assets, and prospective lending structures on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
Robinhood, a US-based trading platform known for providing retail access to stocks and cryptocurrencies, will be represented by its Head of Crypto, Johann Kerbrat. He and Ripple President Monica Long will examine the growing convergence between retail and institutional participation in the digital asset ecosystem.
Industry experts from major banks, trading houses, and platforms will address how stablecoins and tokenized assets are reshaping liquidity, access, and market structure.
