XRP News Today: Ripple Secures Approval for Crypto Payments in Dubai

Ripple just made a big move in the Middle East! The blockchain payments company has secured approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to offer regulated crypto payments in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC). This makes Ripple the first blockchain-powered payments provider to receive a DFSA license – a major win as it expands into one of the world’s most crypto-friendly regions.

Dubai has quickly become a hotspot for crypto firms looking to grow, thanks to its supportive regulations and booming digital economy.

Six-Month Wait Pays Off

On March 13, Ripple officially announced that it had secured its DFSA license, allowing it to operate in the DIFC, a key financial hub with its own regulatory framework. This approval follows an in-principle nod from the DFSA on October 1, 2024. With this license, Ripple can now expand its digital asset services in the UAE, reinforcing its role in the region’s fast-growing blockchain ecosystem.

Dubai is a global center for cross-border transactions, with its payments market valued at $40 billion. Ripple’s blockchain-based solutions bring faster, cheaper, and more transparent transactions to businesses in the region. CEO brad garlinghouse brad garlinghouse Brad Garlinghouse is the CEO of the financial technology company Ripple Labs, in 2012 by Chris Larsen and Jed McCaleb, and has a headcount of 1,120. It is a financial technology business that specializes in blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency XRP, founded by Brad Garlinghouse. He also played a unique and significant role in creating an advanced cross-border payment using blockchain technology. He is an extremely popular person across the globe in the crypto landscape. Brad has previously served as the CEO of Hightail, a file-sharing service, and is also an active angel investor. Joined Ripple as COO.  He was promoted to be the CEO in December 2016. Initially, he worked at AOL and Yahoo! where he filled in as Senior Vice President at Yahoo!, where he ran its Homepage, Flickr, Yahoo! Mail, and Yahoo Courier divisions. While at Yahoo, he also wrote an inner updated version known as the Peanut Butter Manifesto, requiring the organization to zero in on its core business instead of expanding itself. He is one of the Top Speakers in the Crypto and Blockchain field, where he shares the knowledge and evolvement of the technology in the current space    Quick Facts Full Name Bradley Kent Garlinghouse Birth 06-02-1971, in Topeka, Kansas Nationality American Education Bachelor's degree in Economics, MBA from Harvard Business School. Net Worth $10B (Refer here)   Ripple's native token, XRP is among the top digital assets. As per CoinGape, Brad's company has $100 billion worth of XRP tokens in its reserve. This will help further innovation in Web3 and blockchain projects. As per reports surfing on Binance’s blog, Brad Garlinghouse may step down as CEO of Ripple to join the Crypto Advisory Council, which is led by President Trump. This significant event will boost the adoption of decentralized finance and blockchain growth.   Brad Garlinghouse: Trivia 2007: Served as Senior VP at Yahoo!, heading communications and consumer products. 2012: Became CEO of Hightail, leading digital file-sharing innovations. 2015: Joined Ripple as COO to push blockchain adoption in cross-border payments. 2017: Became CEO of Ripple, driving XRP adoption and blockchain partnerships. 2020: Led Ripple’s defense against the SEC lawsuit over XRP’s security status. 2021: Expanded Ripple’s ODL (On-Demand Liquidity) network for global crypto payments. 2023: Got a partial success against the SEC, declaring XRP as not a security. 2024: Continue leading Ripple in CBDC collaborations and global blockchain finance. 2025: May join Trump's Crypto Advisory Council to set regulations.   Notable Works & Achievements by Brad Garlinghouse Year Achievements Details 2003 Wrote the 'Peanut Butter Manifesto' at Yahoo! Highlighted Yahoo!'s lack of focus in operations. 2015 Joined Ripple as Chief Operating Officer Took measures to integrate blockchain technology into banking systems. 2017 Appointed CEO of Ripple Expanded Ripple's global partnerships, enhancing cross-border payment solutions. 2020 Named in Forbes' List of Wealthiest in Cryptocurrency Recognized for significant contributions to the crypto industry. 2023 Legal Victory in SEC vs. Ripple Case Achieved a favorable ruling impacting cryptocurrency regulations.   EntrepreneurInvestorChief Executive OfficerBoard Member and his team celebrated the achievement, highlighting how regulatory clarity and institutional adoption are fueling crypto’s growth.

With Dubai embracing digital assets, Ripple is well-positioned to benefit from this trend.

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Strong Presence in the Middle East

Ripple has been expanding in the region since setting up its DIFC headquarters in 2020. Today, about 20% of its customers are based in the Middle East. A recent survey found that 64% of finance leaders in the region believe blockchain payments are the future. With the new DFSA license, Ripple can further scale its services in one of the most crypto-friendly markets in the world.

Overcoming Challenges

Despite facing regulatory hurdles in the U.S., Ripple continues its global expansion, securing over 60 regulatory approvals worldwide. It holds key licenses from Singapore’s MAS, New York’s NYDFS, and Ireland’s Central Bank. The company is also making progress in stablecoins, with its RLUSD stablecoin surpassing a $100 million market cap. With these developments, Ripple is solidifying its role in reshaping international finance through blockchain innovation.

Recently, the company also cheered the XRP ETF filing, which hints that Ripple is confident that the Ripple vs SEC case will be resolved soon. 

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