Ripple Deepens Zand Bank Alliance: RLUSD & AEDZ Now Live on XRPL
Ripple just doubled down on its Middle Eastern ambitions. The blockchain giant has expanded its existing partnership with UAE's Zand Bank, pushing its stablecoin RLUSD and the bank's digital dirham AEDZ directly onto the XRP Ledger (XRPL). This isn't just a pilot anymore—it's a full-scale deployment.
Why This Move Cuts Through the Noise
Forget vague "explorations." This integration bypasses the traditional correspondent banking maze for cross-border payments between the two assets. It turns the XRPL into a direct settlement rail for real-world currency movement, a tangible step toward the oft-hyped "Internet of Value."
The Ripple Effect on Finance
The play is clear: anchor a major regional bank's digital currency on a public ledger it already trusts. It validates the XRPL as infrastructure for national and private digital currencies alike, potentially creating a network effect that could lure other institutional players tired of walled-garden solutions.
One cynical finance jab? It's a brilliant way to make a stablecoin relevant—just hardwire it into a bank's core system before the legacy players finish their third committee meeting on the topic.
This expansion signals a shift from talk to transaction. By locking in a key regional partner, Ripple isn't just selling technology; it's building an alliance. The real test will be whether this corridor sees enough volume to make the traditional system sweat.
Ripple and AEDZ to use XRPL in the UAE-regulated environment
According to Zand Bank’s press release, the partners are seeking to integrate regulated digital money into a banking structure that operates under UAE oversight. Zand is an AI- and blockchain-powered bank based in the Emirates.
“Leveraging stablecoins, blockchain technology, and tokenization can unlock powerful new use cases as traditional finance moves on-chain,” the Emirati-based bank’s official X account wrote.
AEDZ is the UAE’s first regulated, multi-chain stablecoin pegged to the dirham on public blockchains, and is backed one-to-one with reserves denominated in the UAE currency. Zand reiterated that the token uses independently audited smart contracts and regular reserve attestations.
Zand and @Ripple, the leading provider of blockchain-based enterprise solutions across traditional and digital finance, are partnering to help advance and support the digital economy, with innovative solutions powered by the Zand AED (AEDZ) stablecoin and Ripple’s USD (RLUSD)… pic.twitter.com/8JXqjJgmTw
— Zand (@Official_Zand) February 10, 2026
The companies said the objective is to allow regulated institutions to use both currencies inside a compliant digital framework, on Ripple’s blockchain network. The focus includes custody, liquidity, and issuance mechanics under supervisory standards.
The UAE has included stablecoins as part of its Digital Economy Strategy, a program that aims to double the digital economy’s share of non-oil GDP by 2032. Market projections cited by the firms suggest the global stablecoin sector could grow to $4 trillion in the coming years. According to CoinGecko data, RLUSD has a current market capitalization of $1.5 billion.
“Our partnership with Ripple represents a significant step forward in the growth of the digital asset ecosystem, and has the potential to revolutionize how both governments and businesses engage with trusted blockchain solutions in the UAE.”
Zand’s chief executive, Michael Chan.
Ripple’s Middle East managing director, Reece Merrick, believes the two entities will provide the UAE with the most secure, transparent, and efficient blockchain-backed financial system.
“Our expanded partnership with Zand underscores our commitment to the UAE’s pioneering digital economy. We look forward to driving the adoption of stablecoins and tokenized assets in the region, creating a robust foundation for the next generation of financial services.”
Reece Merrick.
Ripple builds up custodial rights with Securosys collab
The Zand announcement came alongside an update from Ripple on Monday, in which the company revealed a set of custody-focused collaborations. As reported by Cryptopolitan, Ripple has joined forces with Swiss-based cybersecurity platform Securosys and staking service provider Figment.
The RLUSD-issuer said the combined effort is meant to simplify procurement and shorten deployment timelines for institutions handling digital assets, with the help of hardware security modules, or HSMs.
“Institutions need cohesive systems in order to make the most of digital asset capabilities … We’re removing the friction of managing complex tech Stacks and enabling our customers to go live faster and scale with confidence.”
Aaron Slettehaugh, Ripple SVP of Product.
The blockchain company now offers CyberVault HSM and CloudHSM capabilities from Securosys, which can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud. This will allow institutions to secure cryptographic keys without extended procurement processes or complex integrations.
Speaking on the partnership with Ripple, Securosys chief executive officer Robert Rogenmoser said: “Institutions require absolute confidence in how cryptographic keys are secured and managed. By integrating our CyberVault HSM with Ripple Custody, institutions gain an out-of-the-box, enterprise-grade solution that can be deployed quickly, without added complexity, while retaining full control over their cryptographic keys.”
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