XRP News Today: Ripple's RLUSD Earns Abu Dhabi Seal, Redefining Institutional Trust in Tokenized USD

Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin has secured regulatory approval in Abu Dhabi, marking a pivotal expansion for the U.S. dollar-backed token in the Middle East. The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) recognized RLUSD as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token, allowing licensed institutions to use it for regulated activities such as collateral, lending, and prime brokerage within the ADGM's international financial center according to a report. This clearance positions RLUSD alongside a select group of tokens permitted in ADGM's tightly governed system, enhancing its credibility as a settlement asset in a region where financial institutions have been proactive in adopting tokenized infrastructure as data shows.

The approval builds on Ripple's growing footprint in the Gulf, where it has already expanded into Bahrain and secured in-principle and full regulatory approvals in Dubai. ADGM's stringent compliance framework—requiring firms to meet reserve management and disclosure obligations—adds a layer of trust for institutions, aligning with Ripple's strategy to present RLUSD as a regulated, institutional-grade stablecoin according to reports. This move also complements recent partnerships with entities like Zand Bank and Absa, which have integrated Ripple's blockchain-based payment solutions as per industry analysis.

RLUSD's adoption has accelerated rapidly since its December 2024 launch, with its market capitalization surpassing $1.26 billion in November 2025. The token's supply is split between Ethereum (80%) and the XRP Ledger (20%), with institutional demand driving its use in cross-border payments, treasury operations, and collateral flows as statistics indicate.

Jack McDonald, Ripple's senior vice president of stablecoins, highlighted RLUSD's role as a "go-to USD stablecoin for major institutions," emphasizing its reserve transparency and compliance with New York DFS trust regulations as reported.

The stablecoin's growth is underpinned by its dual-chain architecture, which combines Ethereum's DeFi ecosystem with the XRP Ledger's high-speed transactions. On-chain data show RLUSD processing over $5 billion in monthly transfers and 38,166 holders, with daily trading volumes averaging $64–$75 million. Institutional adoption has been a key driver, with Ripple expanding its cross-border payment rails into regions like Africa and Latin America, where RLUSD facilitates efficient, low-cost transactions.

Looking ahead, RLUSD's success could reshape Ripple's ecosystem beyond speculative XRP price movements. Every RLUSD transaction on the XRP Ledger generates a small network fee, creating a recurring revenue stream as stablecoin usage grows. Additionally, partnerships with Mastercard, WebBank, and Gemini—piloting RLUSD for card settlements—signal its potential to bridge traditional finance and blockchain. With Ripple pursuing a U.S. national bank charter and expanding RLUSD to chains like Cardano, the stablecoin's trajectory reflects a broader push to anchor institutional finance within its infrastructure as market analysis shows.