Ripple has obtained regulatory approval in the United Kingdom, marking another step in the company’s efforts to expand its presence in tightly regulated financial markets.
Key points to remember:
- Ripple has obtained FCA registration and EMI authorization, expanding its regulated crypto and payments operations in the UK.
- These approvals allow Ripple to expand its payment services as the UK moves forward with a clearer regulatory framework for digital assets.
- XRP rose slightly following the news, while Ripple is also moving forward with plans for US trust banks.
According to an update published on the regulator’s register on Friday, Ripple’s UK subsidiary, Ripple Markets UK Ltd., has been registered with the Financial Conduct Authority under the country’s money laundering and terrorism financing rules.
Registration allows the company to carry out certain crypto-related activities in the UK, although it does not constitute full authorization for financial services.
In a separate filing dated January 9, the FCA also showed that Ripple had obtained e-money authorization through its UK arm.
This status allows Ripple to offer regulated payment and e-money services under the regulator’s supervision, strengthening its compliance credentials in one of the world’s largest financial centers.
The approval comes as the UK continues its efforts to position itself as a global hub for digital assets.
Regulators have consulted on new rules covering crypto trading platforms, lending and staking, signaling a more structured approach to oversight.
Ripple is expected to use this authorization to scale its payments infrastructure in the UK and deepen its relationships with banks, payment providers and institutional clients operating in the region.
The news appears to have had a modest impact on market sentiment. XRP, the digital asset linked to Ripple’s payments network, was trading around $2.1 at press time, up more than 10% over the past week, according to CoinGecko.
JUST IN:
Ripple obtains registration with the Financial Conduct Authority through its UK subsidiary. pic.twitter.com/9HR7SW0fPO
– Whale Insider (@WhaleInsider) January 9, 2026
Ripple obtains registration with the Financial Conduct Authority through its UK subsidiary. Last month, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency opened the doors of the federal banking system to a new wave of digital asset companies, authorizing five crypto companies, including Circle and Ripple, to launch national trust banks.
Circle and Ripple were among the applicants granted conditional approval to establish domestic trust banks, a charter that allows them to hold assets and offer select banking services without accepting deposits or issuing loans.
Applicants now have 18 months to raise capital, assemble staff, and build compliant infrastructure before taking the OCC final exam.
Ripple’s RLUSD Gets Regulatory Green Light in Abu Dhabi
As reported, Ripple’s dollar-backed stablecoin RLUSD has been cleared for institutional use in Abu Dhabi after being recognized as an accepted Fiat-referenced token by the local regulator.
The approval allows Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) approved companies to use RLUSD for regulated financial activities within the free zone financial hub.
The green light was granted by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority, which oversees the ADGM. According to the rules, companies can deploy RLUSD if they meet the requirements for reserves, transparency and compliance.
The decision strengthens Ripple’s expansion in the UAE. In recent months, the company has secured approvals in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and onboarded partners including Zand Bank and Mamo.
As reported, Ripple is also considering whether to bring staking to the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a move that would push the decade-old blockchain deeper into the rapidly expanding world of decentralized finance.
The article Ripple Obtains FCA Approval to Expand Its Crypto Operations in the UK appeared first on Cryptonews.
