Ripple and DriveWealth are partnering to integrate stablecoin settlement, cross-border payments, digital asset custody, and equity financing into global investing infrastructure. At the core of the collaboration is RLUSD, Ripple's U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, which will run on the XRP Ledger to support settlement in Europe, with plans to extend the service into the United States. The collaboration brings a dollar stablecoin into the plumbing that funds stock investing, an area long dependent on bank wires and their operating windows.

According to the official announcement, DriveWealth clients will be able to fund collateral accounts with stablecoins, an approach intended to reduce bank-wire delays and improve access to capital. DriveWealth CEO Naureen Hassan and Ripple executive Jack McDonald outlined the partnership's goals.

RLUSD Settlement and Cross-Border Payments

DriveWealth will integrate Ripple's stablecoin infrastructure, using RLUSD on the XRP Ledger alongside Ripple's minting and burning capabilities. The settlement service will launch in Europe, with expansion into the United States planned.

DriveWealth will also integrate Ripple Payments to accept cross-border funds from global partners. In parallel, the two companies are collaborating on digital asset custody in Europe, with further market expansion planned.

The partnership is designed to address a timing gap in institutional workflows: U.S. equities settle on a T+1 basis — a cycle the U.S. market adopted in May 2024 — while international dollar transfers can take longer. These delays can increase funding needs and leave capital unavailable when clients require it.

Expanded Funding and Custody Options

Under the integration, DriveWealth clients will be able to fund and manage collateral accounts using stablecoins that convert to cash in near real time, reducing reliance on bank wires and their transfer windows. Stablecoin transfers move on blockchain rails around the clock, outside banking cut-off times, which is what allows funding to keep pace with extended trading sessions.

DriveWealth is additionally moving its treasury and custody infrastructure onto Ripple's systems. The companies aim to give clients a real-time view of funds held in dollars, stablecoins, or cryptocurrencies.

Hassan noted that DriveWealth had already enabled 24/5 trading and said the firm wanted its funding services to match that level of market access. She said the partnership would extend DriveWealth's existing funding and custody services to stablecoins and digital assets.

Equity Financing Through Ripple Prime

Beyond payments and custody, DriveWealth and Ripple Prime are exploring equity financing opportunities through Ripple Prime's Delta One business. The initiative would expand institutional services across U.S. equities and equity derivatives, though the announcement gives no product details or timelines for this piece.

Jack McDonald, Ripple's senior vice president of stablecoins, said discussions between the companies began around cross-border settlement before broadening into other areas.

DriveWealth provides investing services to more than 100 partners worldwide, including fintechs, digital wallets, and financial institutions, which would place the stablecoin funding rails behind those partners' platforms and apps. Ripple holds more than 85 regulatory licenses globally, a compliance footprint that supports its role in moving customer funds across jurisdictions.

The companies are scheduled to discuss the partnership at Ripple Swell, Ripple's annual conference, on Wednesday, October 28, in New York City. The announcement did not specify launch dates for the European rollout or the planned U.S. expansion, leaving the Swell session as the nearest scheduled venue for further detail.