Ripple has expanded the reach of its RLUSD stablecoin in the Middle East through a new strategic partnership with UAE-based digital bank Zand, a move that could have a long-term impact on the XRP ecosystem.
Summary
- Ripple has expanded the reach of its RLUSD stablecoin in the Middle East through a strategic partnership with UAE-based digital bank Zand, which is targeting the use of funds on the regulated chain.
- The collaboration will use Zand’s stablecoin (AEDZ) based on AED and RLUSD to support blockchain-based payments, settlement, liquidity management, and tokenization.
- While the deal is focused on stablecoins, Ripple’s institutional growth is seen as a platform to support XRP, which was trading at $1.41, up 1.3% in the past 24 hours.
Ripple and Zand are targeting on-chain finance in the UAE
Under the partnership, Zand and Ripple will work together to develop the digital economy through solutions powered by Zand’s AED-backed stablecoin (AEDZ) and Ripple’s US dollar stablecoin (RLUSD).
This initiative aims to support the migration of traditional financial services to the chain using stablecoins, blockchain infrastructure, and tokens.
Zand said the partnership represents a “significant step forward” in expanding real-world use cases for digital assets, especially as regulated financial institutions explore blockchain-based payments, payments, and financial management.
By merging AEDZ and RLUSD, the two firms are positioning themselves to facilitate multi-currency on-chain transactions in a regulated environment.
XRP price amid Ripple expansion
While the announcement focused on stablecoins rather than XRP specifically, Ripple’s institutional growth is generally seen as a layer that supports XRP’s long-term resource narrative.
XRP has historically traded as a proxy for sentiment regarding Ripple’s business development, especially in regions where RippleNet adoption is growing. The Ripple token (XRP) was exchanging hands at $1.41 at press time, up 1.3% in the past 24 hours.
In the near term, XRP price action remains driven by broader crypto market conditions and risk appetite. However, continued progress in stablecoin adoption and business partnerships could strengthen investor confidence in the Ripple ecosystem over time.
As Ripple deepens its presence in the UAE through Zand, the move highlights how stablecoins, not just volatile cryptocurrencies, are becoming the mainstay of blockchain adoption in regulated financial markets.
