Ripple & DriveWealth Team Up for Faster Global Trading

Have you ever tried to trade stocks outside standard banking hours, only to find out your money is stuck waiting for the bank to open? That exact delay is what RippleXRP-4.26% and DriveWealth are working together to solve.

DriveWealth provides financial infrastructure to more than 100 fintechs, digital wallets, and financial institutions worldwide. On October 14, 2026, the company announced a partnership with Ripple to speed up how funds move across global markets.

Why Banking Hours Drag Down Modern Trading

Today, many investing platforms allow people to trade five days a week, 24 hours a day. However, traditional bank wire transfers haven't kept pace with round-the-clock stock trading.

On May 28, 2024, U.S. stock markets transitioned to a T+1 settlement cycle. This means when you buy or sell a stock, the cash and shares officially exchange hands one business day after the deal.

While T+1 speeds up domestic settlement, moving U.S. dollars across international borders can still take days. This time gap traps capital and forces brokerages to hold extra cash reserves just to cover pending transfers.

DriveWealth Chief Executive Officer Naureen Hassan highlighted this challenge, pointing out that while 24/5 trading is already live, funding methods need to match that speed so clients can react to market movements instantly.

While near real-time digital settlement helps reduce capital delays, financial firms must still carefully manage technological, liquidity, and operational risks associated with digital assets.

How RLUSD and the XRP Ledger Speed Up Settlement

To solve the funding delay, DriveWealth is integrating Ripple's stablecoin technology starting in Europe. The process relies on Ripple USDRLUSD-1.38%, a dollar-backed token issued on the XRP Ledger.

If you are new to crypto terms, a stablecoin is a digital token pegged to a steady asset like the U.S. dollar. Ripple states that RLUSD is backed 1-to-1 by dollar reserves, including cash and short-term U.S. Treasuries.

Here is how the automated workflow handles funding behind the scenes:

• Minting: New RLUSD tokens are created when fiat funds enter the system.
• Instant Transfer: Digital dollars move across the XRP Ledger at any time of day.
• Burning: Tokens are destroyed as they convert back into cash to back brokerage collateral accounts.

This setup allows platforms to top up collateral accounts quickly, helping support customer trades without waiting on traditional bank windows.

DriveWealth plans to expand this stablecoin settlement service into the United States and adopt Ripple Payments for global partner funding. They will manage token creation and redemption through Ripple Mint, an institutional tool introduced on July 23.

Expanding into Custody and Institutional Financing

The partnership extends beyond basic payment rails. DriveWealth is also collaborating with Ripple on digital asset custody in Europe, with plans for broader global markets over time.

Custody refers to the secure holding and protection of digital assets on behalf of clients. Notably, global bank Standard Chartered also launched RLUSD custody on the XRP Ledger on October 12, expanding institutional safekeeping options.

DriveWealth's treasury integration will give its partners a consolidated view across fiat dollars, stablecoins, and crypto, making capital movements seamless.

Additionally, the companies are exploring institutional equity financing through Ripple Prime. This includes discussing Delta One operations like total return swaps, which give investors financial exposure to stocks without requiring direct share ownership.

Ripple brings a substantial regulatory backing to the deal, holding more than 85 regulatory licenses worldwide. Executives from both companies will discuss the initiative further at the Ripple Swell conference in New York City on October 28.

The Big Picture for Real-World Crypto Utility

This collaboration highlights a growing trend of financial institutions using blockchain rails to modernize legacy backend systems.

Ripple Chief Executive Officer Brad Garlinghouse has frequently pointed to real-world utility as the primary driver for blockchain adoption. While he holds personal investments in XRP, the company's enterprise strategy centers on practical applications for global finance.

As adoption grows, investors should keep in mind that crypto assets and financial markets carry inherent market risks. Past performance of digital assets is not a guarantee of future results.