Ripple, the global blockchain and digital payments company, has announced a strategic partnership with Jeel, the innovation arm of Riyad Bank in Saudi Arabia.
Reece Merrick@reece_merrick ·Followhttps://twitter.com/reece_merrick/status/2015717273752019127
More big news from the Middle East! @Ripple partners with @Jeelmovement, the innovation arm of @RiyadBank, to advance Saudi Arabia’s financial future through blockchain innovation 🇸🇦 The Kingdom’s visionary leadership has made Saudi Arabia a forward-thinking country.
12:23 p.m. · January 26, 2026 linkRead 45 responses
The collaboration aims to explore blockchain technology to improve the Kingdom’s financial infrastructure.
Although the news did not change the bearish market sentiment of XRP, it added positive momentum to the overlaid bear market.
Exploring blockchain use cases in Saudi Arabia
Through this partnership, Ripple and Jeel will focus on practical blockchain applications.
One of the main objectives is to improve cross-border payment processes.
Blockchain technology has the potential to make these transactions faster, more transparent and more profitable.
Additionally, the collaboration will explore solutions for the preservation of digital assets.
This involves developing secure and compliant ways to manage digital assets.
Another key area of focus is tokenization, which enables the digitalization of financial assets.
By tokenizing assets, financial services can become more efficient and accessible.
These initiatives will be tested in Jeel’s regulatory sandbox, ensuring compliance with Saudi financial regulations.
The sandbox environment allows innovative solutions to be tested in a controlled and supervised environment.
This ensures that new blockchain applications meet local regulatory standards while driving financial innovation.
Alignment with Saudi Arabia Vision 2030
The partnership is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 programme.
Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy and modernize the financial sector.
By adopting blockchain technology, the Kingdom can strengthen its financial infrastructure.
Ripple’s collaboration with Jeel is part of a broader effort to position Saudi Arabia as a forward-thinking financial hub.
Reece Merrick, Director of Ripple, highlighted that the partnership will help shape the future of the Kingdom’s financial ecosystem.
He highlighted the importance of exploring cross-border payments, digital asset custody and tokenization to support Vision 2030 goals.
The initiative also reflects leadership’s commitment to digital transformation.
Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in innovation and fintech to attract global talent and investment.
By partnering with Jeel, Ripple benefits from direct access to the Kingdom’s innovation platforms.
This allows Ripple to test new solutions while benefiting from local expertise and regulatory guidance.
The collaboration also strengthens Ripple’s presence in the Middle East.
The region is increasingly adopting blockchain technology for financial services.
By combining Ripple’s global blockchain experience with Jeel’s local innovation capabilities, the partnership has strong potential to deliver tangible results.
Saudi Arabia is now in a leading position in the adoption of blockchain-based financial solutions.
The partnership sets a precedent for collaboration between international fintech companies and local financial institutions.
It demonstrates how blockchain innovation can support economic growth and modernization.
As Ripple and Jeel advance, the Kingdom could see faster, safer and more efficient financial services.
