DriveWealth announced a collaboration with Ripple to embed the RLUSD stablecoin settlement framework on the XRP Ledger into its brokerage offering. The initial focus will be on European markets, with a subsequent expansion to the United States. DriveWealth supplies brokerage technology to fintech firms, digital wallets and financial institutions, serving over a hundred partners worldwide, which could provide a broad distribution channel for the new service.
How the integration works
The settlement component will rely on RLUSD’s mint-and-burn mechanism native to the XRP Ledger. Clients will be able to fund collateral accounts with the stablecoin, allowing near-instant conversion to fiat rather than waiting for traditional bank wires. A parallel payments layer will incorporate Ripple’s cross-border payment solution, aiming to streamline inbound funding for DriveWealth’s global partners.
Custody and future services
Beyond settlement, the two companies are developing a digital-asset custody solution for European clients, with plans to extend the service to additional regions over time. The custody infrastructure is intended to give users a real-time view of dollars, stablecoins and other crypto assets, and to enable seamless movement between them. While discussions are ongoing about equity-related products through Ripple Prime’s Delta One business, those efforts remain exploratory.
Market impact and regulatory backdrop
Ripple cites a regulatory footprint that includes more than 85 licences worldwide, which it believes supports the cross-border nature of the initiative. DriveWealth’s CEO highlighted the need for funding mechanisms that match 24-/5 trading capabilities, noting that faster settlement could reduce reliance on conventional banking cut-off times. However, the companies have not disclosed specific launch dates, transaction volume targets, or which of DriveWealth’s partners will initially adopt the platform.
Outlook
The partnership will be discussed in more detail at an upcoming Ripple Swell fireside chat in New York on October 28. While the European rollout is the first concrete step, the absence of concrete timelines and partner commitments leaves the broader market impact uncertain. If successful, the integration could demonstrate a scalable model for institutional stablecoin settlement using the XRP Ledger.
Why it matters
The collaboration signals a potential shift toward real-time, stablecoin-based funding for brokerage services, reducing friction associated with traditional bank transfers. By leveraging Ripple’s existing regulatory licences and the speed of the XRP Ledger, DriveWealth aims to provide a more efficient funding experience for its clients. The phased rollout—Europe first, then the United States—offers a testbed for assessing the viability of stablecoin settlement in regulated markets, which could influence future adoption across the brokerage industry.
