Ripple entered into a partnership with one of Africa’s largest banking groups to introduce institutional-grade digital asset custody solutions.
Ripple signed a strategic agreement with South Africa’s Absa Group aimed at launching cryptocurrency and tokenized asset custody services in the country. This partnership marks Ripple’s first major custodial project on the African continent.
The initiative highlights the growing demand for secure and regulated digital asset storage solutions in emerging markets. Through this new partnership, Ripple expands its global custody network, which already covers Europe, the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific region, and Latin America.
As digital investment interest rises across Africa, regulators are developing frameworks to govern blockchain technology, creating opportunities for financial institutions to roll out products that meet international safety and compliance standards.
Reece Merrick, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Ripple, noted that Africa is undergoing major changes in how value is stored and transferred, emphasizing that the partnership with Absa reflects the company’s long-term strategy to foster digital asset market growth across the continent.
According to Robyn Lawson, Head of Digital Assets Product at Absa Group, integrating Ripple’s solutions will allow the bank to ensure top-tier security, regulatory compliance, and technological resilience. The partnership aims to build a new generation of financial infrastructure to support the growing demand for tokenized assets.
Earlier in 2025, Ripple partnered with African FinTech provider Chipper Cash to deploy crypto-based cross-border payment solutions.
