- Ripple filed for a national bank charter and Fed Master account, aiming to directly custody RLUSD reserves with the Federal Reserve.
- XRP price surged past $2.20 after Garlinghouse confirmed the bank application, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Ripple’s roadmap.
- Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin now holds a $470 million cap, with federal access expected to improve settlement and custody efficiency.
Ripple is moving closer to full financial integration, filing for a national banking charter and Fed Master account this week.
Ripple Seeks Bank License and Federal Access
Ripple has officially submitted an application for a national bank charter in the United States. CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced the development on X, stating the firm’s goal to operate under both state and federal oversight. Ripple is also pursuing a Fed Master account via Standard Custody to directly access the Federal Reserve’s payment network and custody RLUSD stablecoin reserves.
According to Garlinghouse, this infrastructure will allow Ripple to offer secure and regulatory-compliant services as stablecoins grow in usage. He noted the move could set a new benchmark for trust in the market. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency confirmed it had received Ripple’s charter application.
The dual application for both a bank charter and Fed access places Ripple among the few crypto-native companies aiming for direct participation in traditional financial systems.
Stablecoin RLUSD Supports Ripple’s Strategy
Ripple launched its RLUSD stablecoin in October last year. While its market capitalization remains below competitors like Tether and USDC, RLUSD has reached around $470 million in value. Garlinghouse emphasized that the company aims to position RLUSD as a regulated, institution-ready stablecoin with direct Fed backing.
This step reflects a wider push among crypto firms to reduce reliance on intermediary banking partners. With access to Fed payment rails, Ripple would gain more control over costs and settlement speeds while presenting a regulated alternative for stablecoin usage in large-scale payments.
Garlinghouse said this setup is crucial as institutions begin demanding higher levels of oversight in digital asset infrastructure.
XRP Gains After Charter Application Announcement
Following the news of Ripple’s application, the XRP token surged. According to CoinGecko, XRP increased 2.80% over the last 24-hours and is trading at $2.25 as of writing. The price spiked to $2.28 shortly after Garlinghouse’s post and has since consolidated a bit.
The XRP price movement correlates to the firm’s recent announcement of a public filing, meaning investors are feeling reinvigorated in their confidence towards Ripple’s regulatory goals. Crypto analyst Doctor Profit characterized the sequence of events as a brand new milestone in Ripple’s long-term game plan.
