- BlackRock, Mastercard, and Franklin Templeton test XRPL for stablecoin payments, focusing on infrastructure not trading use cases.
- Ripple partnerships enable tokenized funds like BUIDL and VBILL to convert into RLUSD for continuous onchain liquidity flows.
- XRP Ledger activity rises as institutions explore payments, lending, and settlement using integrated blockchain financial tools.
Major financial firms are moving deeper into blockchain infrastructure as BlackRock, Mastercard, and Franklin Templeton explore the XRP Ledger for payments and settlement. The activity was confirmed by Odelia Torteman during a Digital Assets Forum event in London, highlighting ongoing institutional tests using RLUSD on-chain.
Institutional Tests Expand Across Payments
Notably, Torteman said these firms view the network as infrastructure rather than a trading venue. She described XRP as a bridge asset used for transferring value across different assets. The ledger also includes an automated market maker, a decentralized exchange, and compliance-focused trust lines.
Meanwhile, Mastercard partnered with Gemini and Ripple last November to test RLUSD settlement for card payments. The pilot showed how regulated stablecoins can process transactions on a public blockchain.
Tokenization Deals Drive Broader Usage
As testing continued, additional partnerships focused on tokenized assets. Ripple worked with Securitize to support conversions into RLUSD for BlackRock’s BUIDL fund and VanEck’s VBILL fund. This setup enables continuous liquidity through smart contracts.
Separately, Franklin Templeton and DBS Bank collaborated with Ripple on tokenized lending and trading solutions. These efforts combine money market funds with stablecoin settlement to improve liquidity and execution.
XRPL Activity Rises With Institutional Focus
At the same time, XRP has seen increased market activity alongside these developments. The token gained nearly 10% over the past week, briefly moving above $1.50. Data also showed about $55 million in ETF inflows during the same period.However, Torteman emphasized that institutional interest centers on infrastructure capabilities. She said the XRP Ledger supports payments, settlements, and cross-asset transfers within a single system.
