XRP’s Strategic Leap: Ripple, Mastercard, and Gemini Unite for Stablecoin Payments Revolution
In a groundbreaking move announced at Ripple Swell 2025 in New York, Ripple has partnered with financial giants Mastercard and Gemini to integrate its RLUSD stablecoin into credit card transactions and settlements on the XRP Ledger. This collaboration marks a significant step toward mainstream adoption of blockchain-based payments, aiming to enhance efficiency and reduce transactional friction. By leveraging regulated stablecoins, the alliance seeks to bridge traditional finance with digital asset innovation, potentially accelerating XRP's utility in global payment systems. The initial phase will focus on RLUSD integration, signaling a transformative shift in how financial institutions approach crypto-enabled settlements.
Ripple, Mastercard, Gemini Partner on Stablecoin Deal to Transform Payments
Ripple has forged a strategic alliance with Mastercard and Gemini to leverage its RLUSD stablecoin for credit card transactions and settlements on the XRP Ledger. Announced at Ripple Swell 2025 in New York, the partnership aims to streamline payment processing, reduce friction, and demonstrate the viability of regulated stablecoins in traditional finance.
The collaboration will initially focus on integrating RLUSD into Mastercard and WebBank's settlement systems, pending regulatory approvals. Ripple President Monica Long emphasized the potential for blockchain-based settlements to enhance efficiency while maintaining compliance standards.
BlackRock XRP ETF Speculation Fuels Institutional Adoption Talks
Market speculation surged following remarks by BlackRock's Director of Digital Assets Maxwell Stein at Ripple's Swell conference, where he hinted at institutional blockchain adoption. A potential XRP ETF could serve as a watershed moment for regulatory recognition and capital inflows.
Stein's comments on real-world asset tokenization align with Nasdaq CEO Adena Friedman's observations of banks already experimenting with blockchain infrastructure. The crypto community interprets these developments as precursors to trillions in institutional capital migrating on-chain.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Praised as 'Best in Crypto' Amid XRP and RLUSD Growth
John Deaton, a prominent lawyer and XRP advocate, has crowned Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse as the "best CEO in crypto" following the company's recent valuation surge to $40 billion. Deaton's endorsement comes after Ripple secured a $500 million investment from Citadel Securities and Fortress Investment Group, validating his long-standing support during the firm's legal battles with the SEC.
Ripple's valuation milestone was further underscored by a $1 billion tender offer earlier this year, executed at the same valuation. The San Francisco-based blockchain firm has also expanded aggressively, acquiring Hidden Road for $1.25 billion and payments platform Rail for $200 million to bolster its VIRTUAL account and backend automation capabilities.
Garlinghouse's leadership has positioned Ripple as a dominant force in cross-border settlements and stablecoin innovation, with XRP and the newly launched RLUSD gaining traction. Deaton's assertion—"not done yet"—hints at further strategic moves ahead.
Ripple CEO Clarifies XRP's Central Role Amid RLUSD Stablecoin Launch
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has forcefully dismissed speculation that the company's new dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, diminishes XRP's strategic importance. In a November 5 interview with crypto reporter Eleanor Terrett, Garlinghouse characterized social media debates about XRP's displacement as rooted in misinformation, declaring the digital asset remains foundational to Ripple's operations.
The executive framed Ripple's payment routing as pragmatically multi-asset, with XRP serving as the backbone alongside newer offerings like RLUSD. "We want to deliver the best possible product at the best price," Garlinghouse noted, emphasizing corridor-specific factors—liquidity depth, cost efficiency, and reliability—determine whether transactions settle via XRP or stablecoins.
XRP Ledger Sees Fastest Wallet Growth in 8 Months Amid Price Rally
The XRP Ledger has recorded its most significant two-day expansion in new wallets since July, with 21,595 addresses created in 48 hours. Santiment's data reveals this surge coincides with a 10% price rebound for XRP, as traders capitalized on a brief market correction.
Network activity remains robust, with daily transactions fluctuating between 1.3 million and 1.9 million throughout October. The ledger processed a peak of 1.9 million transactions on November 3, just as XRP's price began recovering from a weekly low of $2.09 on Bitstamp.
Market dynamics show textbook dip-buying behavior—the cryptocurrency's 12% rebound rewarded those who purchased during the correction. This wallet growth and price action suggest renewed institutional interest in the XRP ecosystem.
Ripple Partners With Mastercard to Integrate XRP Ledger for Card Payments
Ripple has secured a landmark partnership with Mastercard to leverage the XRP Ledger's RLUSD stablecoin for fiat card transaction settlements. The collaboration, involving WebBank and Gemini, marks a significant step toward blockchain-based payment infrastructure modernization.
The initiative will enable WebBank—a regulated U.S. institution—to process Gemini Credit Card transactions via XRPL, blending traditional finance with compliant digital asset solutions. Ripple's prior work with Gemini on an XRP-branded credit card laid the groundwork for this institutional adoption.
