Ripple has expanded the reach of its RLUSD stablecoin in the Middle East through a new strategic partnership with UAE-based digital bank Zand, a move that could have longer-term implications for the XRP ecosystem. Summary Ripple has expanded the reach of its RLUSD stablecoin in the Middle East through a strategic partnership with UAE-based digital bank Zand, targeting regulated on-chain finance use cases. The collaboration will deploy Zand’s AED-backed stablecoin (AEDZ) alongside RLUSD to support blockchain-based payments, settlement, liquidity management, and tokenization. While the deal focuses on stablecoins, Ripple’s growing institutional footprint is viewed as a supportive backdrop for XRP, which was trading at $1.41, up 1.3% over the past 24 hours. Ripple and Zand target on-chain finance in the UAE Under the partnership, Zand and Ripple will collaborate to advance the digital economy by deploying solutions powered by Zand’s AED-backed stablecoin (AEDZ) and Ripple’s U.S. dollar stablecoin (RLUSD). The initiative aims to support the migration of traditional financial services on-chain using stablecoins, blockchain infrastructure, and tokenization. Zand said the partnership represents a “significant step forward” in expanding real-world use cases for digital assets, particularly as regulated financial institutions explore blockchain-based settlement, payments, and liquidity management. By combining AEDZ and RLUSD, the two firms are positioning themselves to facilitate multi-currency on-chain transactions in a regulated environment. Last year @Ripple agreed a payments partnership with UAE bank @Official_ZandWe’re now extending this partnership to explore a range of initiatives, from enabling support for Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin within Zand’s regulated digital asset custody, to direct liquidity solutions… https://t.co/4o7nZ0z9oM— Reece Merrick (@reece_merrick) February 10, 2026 XRP price amid Ripple’s expansion While the announcement centers on stablecoins rather than XRP directly, Ripple’s expanding institutional footprint is often viewed as a supportive backdrop for XRP’s long-term utility narrative. XRP has historically traded as a proxy for sentiment around Ripple’s business momentum, particularly in regions where RippleNet adoption is growing. The Ripple token (XRP) was exchanging hands at $1.41 at press time, up 1.3% in the last 24 hours. In the near term, XRP price action remains driven by broader crypto market conditions and risk appetite. However, continued progress in stablecoin adoption and enterprise partnerships could reinforce investor confidence in Ripple’s ecosystem over time. As Ripple deepens its presence in the UAE through Zand, the move highlights how stablecoins, not just volatile cryptocurrencies, are becoming a core pillar of blockchain adoption in regulated financial markets.
