Ripple’s RLUSD Stablecoin Gains Regulatory Approval for Use in Abu Dhabi’s ADGM
Ripple has secured a major regulatory milestone with its USD-backed stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), now officially recognized as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). This approval enables RLUSD to be used within ADGM by Authorised Persons licensed to conduct relevant regulated activities, provided they meet the FSRA’s firm-level governance, risk, and compliance requirements. For Ripple, the decision strengthens its foothold in one of the world’s most advanced digital asset jurisdictions, validating RLUSD as a trusted and fully compliant settlement asset across the Middle East.
FSRA’s recognition is particularly significant given ADGM’s reputation for progressive, institution-focused . Accepted Token status provides Ripple with a regulated pathway for enterprise adoption across payments, treasury operations, and . The approval follows a series of recent regional endorsements, signaling rapidly growing acceptance of RLUSD among Middle Eastern regulators and financial institutions.
Jack McDonald, , highlighted that the FSRA decision reinforces the company’s emphasis on compliance, transparency, and institutional trust. With RLUSD surpassing $1.2 billion in market capitalization since its 2024 launch—now widely used for collateral, liquidity, and payments—the stablecoin is emerging as an institutional favorite. McDonald added that the combination of regulatory clarity and expanding adoption is driving a new wave of secure, compliant digital-asset usage globally.
Takeaway
Why RLUSD Meets Institutional Requirements for Transparency, Stability, and Compliance
RLUSD’s growing traction is underpinned by the secureguards built into its issuance and reserve structure. The stablecoin is issued under a New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) Limited Purpose Trust Company Charter—one of the strictest regulatory regimes in the digital-asset space. Each RLUSD token is backed 1:1 by high-quality liquid USD assets, with strict reserve management policies, third-party attestations, asset segregation, and clear redemption rights.
This framework ensures predictable behavior, full collateralization, and transparent oversight—requirements that institutional users consider non-negotiable. As regulators worldwide tighten expectations for stablecoins, RLUSD’s alignment with top-tier regulatory standards positions it competitively against other major USD-backed tokens. Ripple’s ability to meet both U.S. and international criteria further strengthens its appeal among banks, fintechs, and enterprises viewking compliant digital-asset infrastructure.
Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, emphasized the UAE’s global leadership in digital-asset policy. With ADGM recognized for its clarity, rigor, and forward-thinking regulatory architecture, RLUSD’s acceptance signals its readiness for high-value enterprise applications. Merrick noted a surge in regional interest for Ripple’s answers, with the approval serving as a catalyst for broader Middle Eastern adoption of technology and capital-markets answers.
Takeaway
How Ripple’s Middle East Strategy Accelerates Regional Digital-Asset Adoption
The FSRA approval comes as Ripple continues expanding across the Middle East and Africa, a region rapidly emerging as a global hub for digital finance. Ripple recently announced a strategic partnership in Bahrain—its first in the Kingdom—and onboarded Absa Bank as its first custody customer in Africa. These developments follow earlier UAE-based wins, including Zand offerings.
ADGM officials also praised Ripple’s progress. Arvind Ramamurthy, Chief Market Development Officer at ADGM, welcomed RLUSD’s approval, emphasizing that the market’s regulatory framework is designed to support sustainable growth in digital-asset innovation. Abu Dhabi’s focus on transparency, trust and governance makes it an ideal venue for institutional-grade stablecoins and next-generation financial infrastructure.
With RLUSD now eligible for use by regulated financial institutions within ADGM, Ripple can expand its core enterprise offerings across the region. This includes integrating RLUSD into Ripple’s cross-border payments network, enabling institutional on- and off-ramps, and supporting tokenization, liquidity, and capital-markets execution through Ripple Prime. Each step reinforces Ripple’s long-term ambition to build globally compliant settlement layers for the emerging digital-asset economy.
