TLDR
- Ripple is acquiring BC Payments Australia to obtain an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL)
- Transaction completion is scheduled for April 1, 2026, enabling accelerated entry into Australia’s regulated financial market
- APAC region payment volumes for Ripple climbed nearly 100% year-over-year in 2025, part of $100 billion total processed across 60 global markets
- At announcement time, XRP was valued at $1.38, showing daily gains of 0.3% and weekly increases of 1.7%
- The company is participating in Project Acacia, Australia’s central bank-led digital asset infrastructure program
Ripple has chosen to acquire an established Australian payments firm with existing regulatory credentials rather than pursuing a lengthy new license application process. This strategic move positions the company to deliver regulated cryptocurrency payment solutions in Australia through an expedited pathway.
The acquisition target is BC Payments Australia Pty Ltd, an entity affiliated with Europe’s Banking Circle Group. Through this transaction, Ripple gains immediate access to an Australian Financial Services License, which executives identify as essential for regional expansion of their payments infrastructure.
April 1 marks the anticipated closing date for this acquisition, confirmed Fiona Murray, managing director for Ripple’s APAC operations. Murray noted sufficient “institutional interest in digital assets to warrant the investment.”
Instead of submitting a fresh AFSL application, Ripple opted for this acquisition strategy. The approach significantly reduces time-to-market, though final license transfer hinges on successful deal completion.
Once the AFSL is operational, Ripple can oversee complete payment workflows — encompassing client onboarding, regulatory compliance, funding operations, currency conversion, liquidity oversight, and settlement processes — integrating conventional banking infrastructure with blockchain-based digital assets.
Current Australian clients utilizing Ripple Payments infrastructure include Hai Ha Money Transfer, Stables, Caleb & Brown, Flash Payments, and Independent Reserve.
APAC Region Expansion Metrics
Ripple disclosed that payment volumes throughout the Asia-Pacific region nearly doubled on an annual basis during 2025, although precise numbers weren’t published. This regional expansion contributes to the company’s recently announced achievement of processing $100 billion in total transaction volume spanning 60 countries worldwide.
Additionally, Ripple has enrolled in Project Acacia, a collaborative research program administered by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre, concentrating on digital asset infrastructure development.
Australia continues developing its cryptocurrency regulatory structure. The Digital Asset Framework legislation cleared the House of Representatives in February and currently awaits Senate consideration. ASIC, the nation’s securities regulator, announced a licensing enforcement moratorium extending through at least June 30, 2026.
Global Licensing Strategy
The Australian initiative represents one component of Ripple’s international regulatory expansion. Throughout the past year, Ripple obtained payment operation licenses in Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. The company also gained preliminary approval for a national trust banking charter within the United States.
Ripple has pursued growth through strategic acquisitions as well, purchasing Hidden Road — subsequently renamed Ripple Prime — establishing itself as the first cryptocurrency-native firm operating a multi-asset prime brokerage platform. The company also acquired corporate treasury management provider GTreasury.
Murray expressed optimism that securing the AFSL could help mitigate cryptocurrency debanking practices affecting Australian consumers, where leading financial institutions have implemented restrictions on customer transfers to digital asset exchanges. Australia’s top four banks — Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, National Australia Bank, and Westpac — have each enacted various forms of these limitations.
Competitor exchange Coinbase is similarly pursuing AFSL approval in upcoming months.
XRP was valued at $1.38 when the acquisition was announced, reflecting a 0.3% daily increase and 1.7% weekly gain.
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