Ripple Partners with Leading African Bank to Offer Digital Asset Custody in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, October 15, 2025 – Ripple, a top provider of digital asset infrastructure for financial institutions, has announced a strategic collaboration with Absa Bank to enable digital asset custody for the bank’s clients in South Africa. This partnership will allow Absa to utilize Ripple’s advanced custody technology to provide scalable and secure storage solutions for tokenized assets, including cryptocurrencies.
As one of Africa’s premier financial institutions, Absa becomes Ripple’s first major custody partner on the continent. This collaboration responds to the increasing need for secure and compliant digital asset infrastructure in emerging markets. Ripple’s growing global custody network now serves clients across Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa, aiding financial institutions in harnessing the opportunities offered by digital asset technology.
“The financial landscape in Africa is undergoing significant changes in how value is transferred and stored. Our partnership with Absa highlights Ripple’s dedication to realizing the potential of digital assets across the continent,” said Reece Merrick, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, at Ripple. “Absa stands out as one of Africa’s most reputable and innovative banks, and we are excited to support its ambitions in the digital asset realm with our secure and compliant custody infrastructure.”
With growing regulatory clarity regarding alternative investments in Africa, there is a surge of institutional interest in blockchain solutions. Ripple’s infrastructure facilitates financial institutions like Absa to explore new digital asset offerings confidently while adhering to stringent security, regulatory, and operational standards.
“As we innovate within the evolving financial landscape, we understand the need for secure, compliant, and effective custody solutions for digital assets,” stated Robyn Lawson, Head of Digital Product, Custody at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking. “Ripple’s custody technology equips us with proven tools that adhere to high security and operational benchmarks. Together, we can provide cutting-edge financial infrastructure for our clients.”
This alliance expands Ripple’s existing operations in Africa. Earlier this year, Ripple announced support for Africa-based payment provider Chipper Cash with its crypto-enabled payment technology, along with the introduction of its USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD in Africa.
Ripple is experiencing heightened demand for its payment solutions across Africa from both crypto-focused companies and traditional financial institutions. According to Ripple’s 2025 New Value Report, 64% of finance leaders in the Middle East and Africa consider faster payment and settlement times as the primary motivation for integrating blockchain-based currencies into cross-border payment strategies.
