Ripple adds Korean brokerage Meritz, Singapore hub XRP Asia and RLUSD custody at Standard Chartered
Ripple signed a Seoul deal with Meritz Securities, launched XRP Asia in Singapore, and Standard Chartered began RLUSD custody in Dubai.
Why it matters
Ripple's deals move its custody and stablecoin infrastructure into regulated brokerage and bank channels in Korea, Singapore, Turkey and the Gulf, though CryptoSlate noted neither announcement sets revenue expectations or a deployment timetable. South Korea plans to allow stocks and bonds issued in tokenized form from Feb. 4, 2027, which is the regulatory opening these partnerships target.
Where the sources disagree
Meritz Securities partnership date
signed and announced Oct. 7 in Seoul
Bitcoin.com News
announced Oct. 14
CryptoSlate, Bitcoin.com News
Bitcoin.com News reported the Meritz agreement as signed and announced in Seoul on Oct. 7, while CryptoSlate and a later Bitcoin.com News report describe the Meritz and DriveWealth agreements as announced on Oct. 14.
Banks on the XRP Seoul stage panel
Kbank, JB Bank, Kakao Bank, Woori Bank, Kyobo Securities, Siam Commercial Bank on the speaker list
Crypto News (CryptoNews.net)
Kbank, Kyobo Securities, Woori Bank, Jeonbuk Bank on one panel
Bitcoin.com News
Crypto News listed Kbank, JB Bank, Kakao Bank, Woori Bank, Kyobo Securities and Siam Commercial Bank among speakers, while Bitcoin.com News described a single panel with Kbank, Kyobo Securities, Woori Bank and Jeonbuk Bank.
Key facts
Meritz Securities and Ripple signed a Seoul agreement on Oct. 7 covering Ripple Custody and tokenization services, signed by Meritz CEO Jang Won-jae and Ripple President Monica Long.
Reported by Bitcoin.com News
XRP Asia launched Oct. 3 in Singapore with backing from Ripple and the XRP Ledger Foundation, led by Sabrina Tachdjian.
Reported by Bitcoin.com News
Standard Chartered launched institutional custody for RLUSD on the XRP Ledger through its Dubai International Financial Centre branch, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority.
Reported by Cointelegraph
Standard Chartered plans to extend its collateral-mirroring model to LMAX Group so clients can use RLUSD as trading collateral while the tokens stay in bank custody, subject to documentation, testing, regulatory requirements and internal approvals.
Reported by Cointelegraph
Ripple agreed to provide LMAX Group $150 million in financing under the two companies' January 2026 partnership.
150,000,000 USDReported by Crypto.News
DriveWealth, which provides investment infrastructure to more than 100 partners worldwide, plans to integrate RLUSD into European settlement operations with potential expansion into the US.
Reported by CryptoSlate
Bitcoin.com News reported on Oct. 7 that XRP logged about $111.4 million (151.2 billion won) in 24-hour Upbit volume, ahead of bitcoin's $104.7 million (142.1 billion won).
111,400,000 USDReported by Bitcoin.com News
CoinGape reported Turkish retail crypto trading volume rose 7% year-on-year to roughly $40 billion in early 2026, moving Turkey from seventh to fifth in a global adoption ranking cited by Ripple, and said RLUSD is live on BiLira, Bitlo and Bitexen.
7 %Reported by CoinGape
What happened
Ripple signed an agreement on Oct. 7 at Meritz Securities' Yeouido headquarters with Meritz chief executive Jang Won-jae, covering Ripple Custody and tokenization services for Korea's capital markets, according to Herald Corporation as reported by Bitcoin.com News. CryptoSlate reported on Oct. 14 that the Meritz agreement was announced alongside a DriveWealth partnership under which DriveWealth plans to integrate RLUSD into European brokerage settlement with possible US expansion; Bitcoin.com News called Meritz Ripple's fourth Korean institutional partner this year and its first brokerage partner, alongside Kyobo Life Insurance, Kbank and Jeonbuk Bank. XRP Asia launched Oct. 3 in Singapore with backing from Ripple and the XRP Ledger Foundation and is led by Sabrina Tachdjian. Cointelegraph and Crypto.News both report that Standard Chartered rolled out institutional custody for RLUSD on the XRP Ledger through its Dubai International Financial Centre branch on Oct. 12, regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority, and that the bank is working with Ripple and LMAX Group on collateral services that would let clients use RLUSD as trading collateral without moving the tokens. Crypto.News adds that Ripple agreed to provide LMAX Group $150 million in financing under their January 2026 partnership, and Cointelegraph reports Ripple and LMAX first announced that partnership in January 2026; the collateral arrangement is still subject to testing, final documentation and approvals. Separately, CoinGape reported on Oct. 6 that Ripple is highlighting Turkey, where Garanti BBVA Kripto runs on Ripple Custody and RLUSD is live on BiLira, Bitlo and Bitexen, citing retail trading volume up 7% year-on-year to roughly $40 billion.
How the story developed
- Update
XRPL Korea adds a fourth XRP Seoul speaker lineup with Ripple as title sponsor
Datavault AI, SOIL, Firelight, Axelar, RedStone and Midnight were added to the Oct. 3 program at Grand Hyatt Seoul.
- First report
First report by Bitcoin.com News
XRP Seoul Brings Tokenization, Yield, and Privacy Firms Together
- Independent corroboration
Independently corroborated by BTC-ECHO
Milliardenschwerer XRP-Deal nimmt entscheidende Hürde
- Official statement
XRP Asia launches in Singapore with Ripple and XRPL Foundation backing
The organization focuses on developer education, startup assistance and community programs across Asia-Pacific.
- Update
XRP Seoul panel puts four Korean banks on stage with Ripple
Organizers said attendance grew from more than 3,000 the prior year to more than 5,000 in 2026.
- Update
Ripple publishes a Turkey market piece on Garanti BBVA custody and RLUSD rails
Garanti BBVA Kripto runs on Ripple Custody and RLUSD is live on BiLira, Bitlo and Bitexen.
- Official statement
Ripple and Meritz Securities sign Seoul agreement
Signed at Meritz headquarters in Yeouido, covering Ripple Custody and tokenization for Korean capital markets.
- Official statement
Standard Chartered confirms RLUSD custody launch and LMAX collateral plan
Cointelegraph says it contacted the bank; the collateral arrangement remains subject to testing, documentation and approvals.
How coverage built up
Independent sources over time, counted the way the consensus panel counts them: a republication of a wire story does not move the line.
- 30 Sept 2026, 01:30 UTC: Bitcoin.com News, official — 1 independent source, 1 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 06:46 UTC: The Crypto Basic — 2 independent sources, 2 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 10:46 UTC: Crypto News (CryptoNews.net) — 3 independent sources, 3 reports
- 2 Oct 2026, 11:19 UTC: BTC-ECHO — 4 independent sources, 4 reports
- 3 Oct 2026, 06:58 UTC: CoinGape — 5 independent sources, 5 reports
- 3 Oct 2026, 06:59 UTC: Bitcoin Insider — 6 independent sources, 6 reports
- 4 Oct 2026, 06:12 UTC: CryptoPotato — 7 independent sources, 10 reports
- 7 Oct 2026, 09:01 UTC: Bitcoin Insider — 8 independent sources, 13 reports
- 12 Oct 2026, 09:30 UTC: Cointelegraph — 9 independent sources, 20 reports
- 14 Oct 2026, 05:23 UTC: U.Today — 10 independent sources, 31 reports
- 14 Oct 2026, 07:39 UTC: TheNewsCrypto — 11 independent sources, 33 reports
- 14 Oct 2026, 18:40 UTC: CryptoSlate — 12 independent sources, 36 reports
- 14 Oct 2026, 23:34 UTC: Blockchain.News — 13 independent sources, 37 reports
Affected entities
Also mentioned: Brazil, Japan, Nasdaq, United Arab Emirates, United States, Upbit, Base
Original sources
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