Ripple has entered a strategic partnership with South Korean brokerage Meritz Securities to explore digital asset custody and tokenization infrastructure for the country's capital markets. The agreement, announced on Oct. 7, comes as South Korea prepares rules that could expand institutional access to digital assets.

Ripple and Meritz Outline Digital Asset Cooperation

Meritz Securities announced the strategic partnership with Ripple on Oct. 7, following a signing ceremony held on Oct. 1 at the brokerage's headquarters in Seoul's Yeouido district, the city's main financial hub. Meritz CEO Jang Won-jae and Ripple President Monica Long attended the ceremony.

Under the agreement, the two companies will examine how Ripple Custody and the firm's tokenization infrastructure could support South Korea's capital markets. Ripple Custody provides institutional infrastructure for storing and managing digital assets, while Ripple's tokenization technology supports the creation and management of blockchain-based financial assets.

The companies will initially operate within existing securities regulations and applicable digital asset rules, and the scope of cooperation could expand as South Korea develops its regulatory framework. Meritz said the partnership combines Ripple's digital asset infrastructure with the brokerage's existing capital markets capabilities, adding that it plans to develop related services gradually as regulations become clearer.

Meritz Reviews ETFs, Tokenized Securities and Stablecoins

The agreement forms part of Meritz Securities' broader preparations for digital assets entering regulated finance. Alongside custody and tokenization, the firm is reviewing several potential business areas, including spot digital asset exchange-traded funds (ETFs), fractional investment products and security token offerings. Meritz is also considering digital asset trading platforms and Korean won-denominated stablecoins.

The company has not announced a specific product launch or commercial timetable under the Ripple agreement. Instead, the initial focus remains on identifying services that can operate within existing regulations.

South Korea is also preparing a legal framework for security tokens. Amendments related to tokenized securities are scheduled to take effect on February 4, 2027, a timeline that gives financial institutions additional incentives to develop infrastructure before broader market access expands. Meritz's review therefore covers both immediate regulatory possibilities and longer-term digital asset services.

Ripple has also expanded its work with Korean financial institutions during 2026. The company previously partnered with Kyobo Life Insurance on infrastructure for tokenized government bond settlement, and it has separately worked with K Bank on digital asset infrastructure, adding to its growing presence within Korea's financial sector.

Ripple Expands Institutional Digital Asset Business

The Meritz partnership extends Ripple's broader strategy of providing digital asset infrastructure to financial institutions. Founded in 2012 and headquartered in San Francisco, Ripple provides blockchain-based financial solutions across more than 90 countries. Its institutional offerings include custody, tokenization, payments and stablecoin infrastructure.

The company has increasingly targeted regulated financial institutions as digital assets become more closely integrated with traditional markets, and custody and tokenization remain important components of that strategy.

The Meritz agreement does not confirm that XRP will be used in future products, nor does it establish that RLUSD or the XRP Ledger will serve as settlement infrastructure.

Fiona Murray, Ripple's managing director for Asia-Pacific, said the companies will explore how digital asset infrastructure can support Korea's capital markets. For Meritz, the agreement provides a framework for evaluating digital asset services before regulatory changes take effect. The companies are expected to begin within existing rules before potentially expanding their cooperation.

Sources: Live Bitcoin News, Sedaily