Ripple has secured a Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) license, becoming the first blockchain payments firm to do so. This allows Ripple to offer regulated crypto payments and services within the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC).

Having established its Middle East headquarters in DIFC in 2020, Ripple now serves over 20% of its global customer base in the region. CEO Brad Garlinghouse praised the UAE’s regulatory clarity and institutional adoption of crypto, while DIFC Authority CEO Arif Amiri called Ripple’s license a milestone for innovation and growth.

Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin, launched in December 2024, has surpassed a $130 million market cap. The DFSA approval adds to Ripple’s 60+ global regulatory licenses.

Last month, Ripple partnered with Unicâmbio to enable instant cross-border payments between Portugal and Brazil.