Ripple Expands Crypto Infrastructure in Korea and Japan with Key Futureverse Partnership

• Ripple partners with Futureverse to provide secure custody solutions, meeting growing demand in the $10T crypto custody market.
• XRPL expands with native smart contracts and an EVM sidechain, enabling a versatile ecosystem for decentralized applications.
• Yonsei University joins Ripple’s UBRI, enhancing blockchain research and adding an XRP Ledger validator to strengthen network security.

Ripple has had key developments this week in Korea and Japan, unveiling several initiatives aimed at strengthening crypto infrastructure. These moves are expected to boost blockchain utility and enhance usability for institutional adoption in the region.

Futureverse Partners with Ripple Custody

Ripple has partnered with Futureverse, an AI and metaverse tech company, to provide secure custody of its digital assets. Futureverse, which already uses XRP as the gas token on its Root Network, integrates with the XRPL DEX for network liquidity. Additionally, Futureverse has adopted the XRPL NFT standard, further solidifying its connection with Ripple’s ecosystem.

Through this partnership, Futureverse will leverage Ripple Custody to ensure the secure handling and storage of its cryptocurrencies before minting them on the self-developed Ottó blockchain. This development aligns with the growing demand for compliant and secure solutions in the expanding crypto custody market, projected to reach $10 trillion by 2030.

Ripple Introduces Programmability to XRPL

Ripple is also pushing forward with new developments in blockchain programmability. The XRP Ledger (XRPL) ecosystem is set to introduce native smart contract capabilities on the XRPL Mainnet and the XRPL EVM sidechain, which will launch soon. These advancements are designed to enhance the flexibility and functionality of the XRPL, making it more appealing to developers and institutions alike.

The introduction of programmability through smart contracts aims to support a wide range of decentralized applications, further expanding the usability of XRPL for institutions looking to adopt blockchain technology. This initiative will likely boost XRPL’s development ecosystem by allowing more complex use cases for blockchain.

Ripple Adds Yonsei University to UBRI

Ripple’s University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI) has added Yonsei University in South Korea as its 58th global partner. UBRI, with over $60 million in committed funding, provides strategic support for academic research in blockchain technology. The partnership will enable Yonsei to lead research in fields such as artificial intelligence, finance, and management.

Yonsei University will also establish an XRP Ledger validator, bolstering the network’s security and decentralization. This initiative offers practical learning for students and faculty, while also reinforcing the credibility of XRPL’s global validator network.