Ripple Partners with Absa Bank to Expand Digital Asset Custody Across Africa

Ripple has announced a strategic partnership with Absa Bank to provide institutional-grade digital asset custody services to customers in South Africa. The collaboration marks Ripple’s first major custody partnership on the continent and extends its global network of financial institutions deploying blockchain-based asset infrastructure.

Under the partnership, Absa will leverage Ripple’s digital asset custody technology to offer secure, scalable storage for tokenized assets, including cryptocurrencies. The integration gives the bank’s clients access to Ripple’s proven infrastructure—designed to meet stringent operational and regulatory standards for financial institutions adopting blockchain technology.

“Africa is experiencing a major shift in how value is stored and platformd,” said Reece Merrick, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Ripple. “Our partnership with Absa underscores Ripple’s commitment to unlocking the potential of digital assets across the continent. As one of Africa’s most respected and innovative banks, Absa’s leadership represents a adoption.”

Takeaway

The partnership reflects rising institutional demand for across emerging markets. With regulators across Africa clarifying frameworks for crypto and tokenized assets, banks like Absa are positioning to serve both exploring blockchain-based investments.

Ripple’s infrastructure enables banks and custodians to manage tokenized assets while meeting stringent security, reporting, and operational standards. The system’s design assists , secureguard Secret keys, and comply with cross-jurisdictional regulatory requirements—key factors for institutions entering the digital asset space responsibly.

“As we continue to innovate within the financial ecosystem, we recognize the importance of secure and compliant digital asset answers,” said Robyn Lawson, Head of Digital Product, Custody at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking. “Ripple’s technology meets the highest standards of operational security, allowing us to deliver next-generation financial infrastructure to our customers.”

Takeaway

The move expands Ripple’s growing footprint in Africa, complementing earlier initiatives such as its partnership with Chipper Cash to enable crypto-powered payments and the introduction of its USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD to African markets. These projects highlight Ripple’s dual focus on payments modernization and digital asset infrastructure across developing economies.

According to Ripple’s 2025 New Value Report, 64% of Middle East and Africa finance leaders identify quicker settlement times as a key reason for adopting blockchain-based currencies. With its technology now embedded in both payments and custody, Ripple is establishing itself as a critical enabler of digital finance across the continent.

The collaboration with Absa also supports Africa’s transition toward tokenized financial services—laying the foundation for future use cases in digital bonds, tokenized deposits, and stablecoin-enabled cross-border transfers. It represents a convergence between established banking institutions and blockchain-native infrastructure.

Takeaway

Ripple now operates a custody network spanning Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa, serving a growing roster of financial institutions adopting tokenization strategies. With 60+ regulatory licenses and more than a decade of experience in digital assets, the company provides a foundation of trust and compliance that supports banks entering the blockchain economy.

For Absa, the partnership signifies a strategic move to modernize its asset management capabilities and prepare for an era of interoperable finance. By aligning with Ripple’s custody framework, Absa can expand beyond traditional securities services and position itself as a .

The collaboration represents more than a technology integration—it is a signal of accelerating institutional adoption across Africa’s banking sector, as legacy systems converge with decentralized infrastructure to form the backbone of the next generation of financial services.

Takeaway