Ripple targets trillion-dollar securities markets with new US brokerage and South Korean deals
Ripple calls Meritz its fourth Korean institutional partner this year, with custody and tokenization cooperation to widen as regulation develops. Read the full story on CryptoSlateUnderstand the crypto stories that matter and what to watch next. Get The Catalyst in your inbox
Ripple announced partnerships with DriveWealth and Meritz Securities to extend its services across global brokerage and securities markets.
The two agreements, announced on Oct. 14, will bring Ripple's stablecoin, payments, and custody infrastructure into DriveWealth's brokerage operations while exploring securities tokenization opportunities with South Korea's Meritz.
DriveWealth, which provides investment infrastructure to more than 100 partners worldwide, plans to integrate Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin into European settlement operations, with potential expansion into the US. Meanwhile, Meritz becomes Ripple's first Korean securities-firm partner and fourth institutional partner in the country this year.
Related ReadingThe agreements deepen Ripple's expansion beyond cross-border payments into traditional capital markets, where financial institutions are exploring blockchain technology to reduce settlement delays, manage collateral and tokenize financial assets.
They also come as South Korea prepares to introduce a regulatory framework for tokenized securities in February 2027, potentially opening another market for Ripple's institutional infrastructure.
Under the DriveWealth agreement, the brokerage infrastructure provider will integrate RLUSD on the XRP Ledger to support settlement in Europe, alongside Ripple's stablecoin issuance and redemption capabilities.
The integration addresses a longstanding challenge in international investing: stock trading has become increasingly accessible outside conventional market hours, while the banking infrastructure used to fund transactions still operates under geographic and time restrictions.
DriveWealth already supports trading in US equities for 24 hours a day, five days a week. However, international clients can face delays when moving funds across borders, particularly when transfers depend on bank operating hours.
The companies intend to let clients fund and manage collateral accounts with stablecoins that can be converted to cash in near real time, potentially reducing the capital held idle while awaiting traditional bank transfers.
“We've already enabled 24/5 trading; now we need the funding to match,” DriveWealth Chief Executive Officer Naureen Hassan said in the announcement.