XRP News Today: Ripple Launches RLUSD Stablecoin for Global Payments

Ripple is expanding its global payments footprint with the launch of RLUSD, a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin designed to revolutionize cross-border settlements. The company has announced a new partnership with London-based payments firm OpenPayd to integrate RLUSD into its infrastructure, aiming to streamline business-to-business payments. This development is seen as a significant step for Ripple in its efforts to evolve beyond its native token, XRP.

RLUSD is more than just a new digital asset; it represents a vision of how blockchain technology and regulatory frameworks can work together to drive financial innovation. The stablecoin will be available on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains, which are widely integrated across enterprise-grade crypto payment infrastructure. This launch is viewed by analysts as Ripple’s attempt to close the stablecoin gap left by market leaders like Tether and Circle.

OpenPayd brings a crucial element to Ripple’s RLUSD strategy: embedded finance. The company operates a cloud-based banking-as-a-service platform and offers APIs that connect users to a full suite of payments, banking, and compliance services. With RLUSD integrated into its ecosystem, OpenPayd now provides its clients with a way to move funds globally in real-time with reduced fees and operational friction.

According to OpenPayd CEO Iana Dimitrova, the integration of RLUSD aims to solve critical issues in cross-border settlements. “Stablecoins like RLUSD offer reliability and predictability, which are necessary for business payments that require speed and transparency,” she said. The timing of this launch is critical as enterprises seek more efficient ways to settle payments across borders without being exposed to the volatility of traditional cryptocurrencies.

Ripple’s entry into the stablecoin space comes at a time when U.S. regulators have signaled growing acceptance of regulated, transparent stablecoin frameworks. While Ripple’s XRP token remains a core element of its payment rail, the launch of RLUSD indicates the firm’s broader pivot toward infrastructure-first products that align with evolving compliance expectations. This move comes just days after Ripple announced the formal conclusion of its multi-year legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Ripple is entering a crowded market, with Circle’s USDC and Tether’s USDT already having significant market shares. However, RLUSD’s market share remains relatively small at launch, but Ripple’s strong institutional partnerships may help it scale more quickly than earlier entrants. For now, RLUSD represents Ripple’s most aggressive push into the stablecoin space, signaling a strategic alignment between compliant infrastructure and high-demand assets.

Ripple has emphasized its commitment to full transparency and monthly attestations by third-party auditors for RLUSD. As Ripple pivots from legal battles to payment dominance, RLUSD’s performance in enterprise corridors could determine how much of the global payments market it can capture. The OpenPayd partnership marks an early test of that ambition.