Key Insights
- Ripple and Zand link RLUSD and AEDZ to support regulated stablecoin payments and custody in the UAE.
- The partnership focuses on XRPL-based issuance, liquidity, and compliance-led banking integration.
- The move supports the UAE digital economy strategy and institutional blockchain adoption.
Ripple and Zand Bank Strengthen Blockchain Banking Ties
Ripple has also increased its collaboration with Zand Bank in the UAE to enable a regulated infrastructure of stablecoins. According to reports shared on X, the collaboration connects Ripple’s US dollar stablecoin, RLUSD, with Zand’s dirham-backed AEDZ token. Both assets will operate within a compliant banking framework.
🚨BREAKING: RIPPLE EXPANDS ENTERPRISE BLOCKCHAIN PUSH WITH ZAND DEAL@Ripple and @Official_Zand have announced a partnership focused on advancing the digital economy.
The collaboration will use Zand’s AEDZ stablecoin and Ripple’s $RLUSD stablecoin.
The goal is to bring… pic.twitter.com/9Ygz7tnMvW
— BSCN (@BSCNews) February 10, 2026
The partnership builds on a payment agreement signed in 2024 as it now shifts focus to custody, issuance, and liquidity. Ripple and Zand aim to bring blockchain-based settlement into institutional finance rather than trading activity.
How Will Stablecoins Integrate Into Regulated Banking
The companies plan to integrate RLUSD into Zand Bank’s regulated digital asset custody platform. This measure will enable institutions to hold and operate the stablecoins within the jurisdiction of the UAE. The partners will also evaluate the direct liquidity channels between RLUSD and AEDZ.
Zand Bank has confirmed plans to issue AEDZ on the XRP Ledger. XRPL offers fast settlement, low fees, and a consensus-based design. These features support payment efficiency while meeting regulatory expectations. Zand states that AEDZ remains fully backed by dirham reserves with regular attestations.
Why Does the XRP Ledger Matter for This Initiative
The project relies on the Ripple blockchain as its technical basis. XRPL allows settling in almost no time and issuing tokens without incurring excessive costs of operations. These facilities are applicable to bank level payment and depository services.
Ripple continues to position XRPL as a settlement layer for institutions and Zand partnership aligns with this strategy. It supports real-world use cases such as:
- Cross-border payments
- Treasury management
- Asset tokenization within a controlled environment
What Does This Mean for the UAE Digital Economy
Zand Bank is one of the UAE’s first fully digitized licensed banks. Ripple opened more branches in the region by forming custody and security dealings. Collectively, they endeavor to offer infrastructure that can help enable banks and corporations to adopt a compliant blockchain.
This growth marks the shift where regulated institutions are now leveraging stablecoins as financial instruments and not speculative assets. It is also an indication of even greater adoption of blockchain systems in conventional banking systems.
