Ripple has agreed to acquire stablecoin payment platform Rail in a $200 million deal, with the transaction expected to close in Q4 2025. The company announced the acquisition on August 7, marking its latest move in the stablecoin payments sector.
The integration of Rail into Ripple’s network will allow the company to offer stablecoin on- and off-ramps, support for Ripple USD (RLUSD) and XRP, and expanded treasury management features for enterprise clients. Users will not need to hold cryptocurrency to access these services.
Ripple also confirmed that Rail’s system will provide access to multi-bank partners, virtual accounts, and API-based payment tools. These include support for 24/7 collections, third-party disbursements, and internal treasury flows, all with enterprise-grade compliance.
RLUSD and XRP Integration Across Global Markets
The deal will support broader adoption of RLUSD and XRP for payments, especially among institutions. According to Ripple, Rail’s infrastructure will help manage both digital asset payments and traditional financial operations in a single platform.
Bhanu Kohli, CEO of Rail, said the company is projected to process over 10% of global stablecoin payments by 2025. The stablecoin payments market could reach $36 billion, based on data from Artemis Analytics.
Ripple’s platform will combine Rail’s tools with existing services to manage multi-asset transactions, improve payment routing, and enhance visibility into real-time balances. Clients will also gain access to tools for cross-border payments without needing to directly hold stablecoins.
The company noted that this setup aims to simplify payment processing by offering centralized access to stablecoin payment tools and banking partners.
Ripple Expands RLUSD Distribution Through Partners
Ripple first introduced its RLUSD stablecoin in late 2024. It was originally aimed at institutions but has since seen growth among retail users. Data from July 2025 showed more RLUSD activity in self-custodial wallets such as Xaman and developer platforms like Transak.
In October 2024, Ripple partnered with several exchanges to support RLUSD distribution. These include Uphold, Bitstamp, Bitso, MoonPay, Independent Reserve, CoinMENA, and Bullish. These platforms help Ripple offer RLUSD across multiple regions, including North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East.
The acquisition of Rail adds to this strategy by allowing Ripple to expand RLUSD transaction support and connect to more payment service providers.
Ripple also confirmed that Rail’s platform supports real-time transaction monitoring, which enables financial teams to manage operations under local regulations.
Ripple Pursues MiCA License and Expands into DIFC
In July 2025, Ripple announced its plan to obtain a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license. A Ripple spokesperson said the company wants to become MiCA-compliant to access opportunities in the European Union.
The move follows approval of RLUSD by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in late 2024. The DFSA oversees the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a financial hub connected to the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. As of December 2024, the DIFC hosted over 6,900 businesses.
With this approval, Ripple can now offer stablecoin payment services in DIFC-regulated markets and engage with local institutions under clear compliance rules.
The license strategy shows Ripple’s continued interest in regulated stablecoin infrastructure across regions with growing payment volume.
Ripple has invested more than $3 billion in mergers and acquisitions to build out its digital asset infrastructure. In April 2025, the company acquired Hidden Road, a prime broker with crypto-friendly services, for $1.25 billion.
That deal gave Ripple access to liquidity services, crypto custody, and institutional trading infrastructure. Now, the acquisition of Rail complements this by adding a stablecoin payment layer for use with RLUSD, XRP, and partner banks.