Ripple Pursues Australian Financial Services Licence Through Strategic Acquisition.

Ripple to Secure Australian Financial Services Licence Through Acquisition of BC Payments Australia

By [Author Name] – March 10 2026

Ripple, the San Francisco‑based fintech firm behind the XRP ledger, announced on Tuesday that it will acquire BC Payments Australia – a subsidiary of the European Banking Circle Group – to gain immediate access to an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). The transaction, which is expected to close on 1 April, marks the latest move in Ripple’s global push to lock down regulatory authorisations for its cross‑border payments platform.

Background

Australia is tightening its regulatory framework for digital‑asset service providers. The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has signalled that an AFSL will become a de‑facto prerequisite for crypto‑related financial services, a stance reinforced by the passage of the Digital Asset Framework bill through the lower house and its pending review in the Senate. In October, ASIC issued guidance indicating that it would not enforce new licensing requirements until at least 30 June 2026, a timeline that has prompted many firms, including Coinbase, to begin the licence‑application process.

Against this backdrop, Ripple’s APAC Managing Director, Fiona Murray, explained that “there is sufficient institutional demand for digital assets in the region to justify the investment.” She added that securing an AFSL has always been part of Ripple’s strategic roadmap for Australia, a market the company describes as “key” to its growth plans.

What the Acquisition Delivers

By purchasing BC Payments Australia, Ripple will inherit the holder of an existing AFSL, allowing it to:

• Operate end‑to‑end payment flows – from client onboarding and compliance checks through funding, foreign‑exchange conversion, liquidity management, and final settlement.
• Integrate traditional banking rails with digital‑asset infrastructure – enabling the company to bridge fiat and crypto ecosystems in a compliant manner.
• Accelerate market penetration – the licence removes a significant barrier for Ripple Payments to expand its services across Australian enterprises and financial institutions.

Murray highlighted that the AFSL will empower Ripple to “manage the full lifecycle of a transaction” while maintaining regulatory compliance, a claim that aligns with the firm’s broader ambition to become a universal payments bridge.

Ripple’s International Licensing Drive

The Australian deal follows a series of regulatory wins for Ripple over the past twelve months:

Concurrently, Ripple has bolstered its product portfolio through acquisitions such as Hidden Road (now Ripple Prime), the first crypto‑native multi‑asset prime brokerage, and GTreasury, a corporate‑treasury platform. These moves have broadened Ripple’s suite of services to include prime brokerage, treasury management, and stable‑coin offerings (XRP and Ripple USD).

Market Context: “Crypto Debanking” in Australia

Australian banks—the Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, National Australia Bank, and Westpac—have increasingly imposed restrictions on transactions involving crypto exchanges, a phenomenon known locally as “crypto debanking.” Murray said Ripple hopes that a regulated licence framework will alleviate these obstacles, providing a clearer pathway for crypto‑related fiat movement.

Industry voices echo this sentiment. OKX Australia’s CEO, Kate Cooper, told Cointelegraph that banking barriers remain a “significant challenge” for adoption, and that clearer standards are needed to unlock wider usage.

Analysis

1. Regulatory Credibility as a Competitive Edge – By securing an AFSL, Ripple gains a first‑mover advantage in the Australian market, where many rivals still operate without a full licence. This could translate into stronger partnerships with banks and corporates wary of compliance risk.

2. Synergy with Existing APAC Strategy – Ripple’s recent licence acquisitions in Singapore and the UAE indicate a concerted effort to build a regulated payments network across the Asia‑Pacific region. The Australian licence integrates neatly into this ecosystem, allowing seamless cross‑border settlements.

3. Potential for Stable‑Coin Adoption – With Ripple’s RLUSD and XRP stable‑coin products positioned for enterprise use, an AFSL could facilitate broader usage of these assets for payroll, remittances, and B2B payments in Australia.

4. Risk Mitigation Amidst Regulatory Uncertainty – While ASIC has indicated a grace period until mid‑2026, the acquisition ensures Ripple is ahead of the curve. However, the firm remains exposed to possible future legislative changes, especially if the Digital Asset Framework bill is amended in the Senate.

Key Takeaways

• Ripple will acquire BC Payments Australia, gaining an Australian Financial Services Licence on 1 April 2026.
• The AFSL enables Ripple to deliver a fully regulated payments stack, integrating fiat and digital‑asset rails.
• Australia’s regulatory environment is evolving; the licence puts Ripple ahead of many competitors still awaiting approval.
• The move complements Ripple’s broader global licensing strategy, which includes licences in the US, Singapore, UAE, and the UK.
• Ripple aims to address “crypto debanking” by providing a compliant avenue for financial institutions to transact with crypto firms.
• Analysts see the licence as a strategic asset that could accelerate the adoption of Ripple’s stable‑coins and enterprise‑payment solutions in the region.

This article adheres to Cointelegraph’s editorial standards of independent, transparent journalism. Readers are encouraged to verify the information independently.

Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/ripple-eyes-australian-financial-license-through-acquisition?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound