This collaboration marks a significant step in Ripple’s expansion within the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region, aligning with South Korea’s evolving regulatory landscape for institutional crypto adoption.

Strengthening Institutional Custody in South Korea

The partnership, which began on February 26, will see BDACS integrate Ripple Custody, a product that was developed for safe holding and storing digital assets. Ripple Custody, which rolled out in October 2024, provides banks with a secure platform to keep their assets under regulatory compliance.

Ripple President Monica Long emphasized South Korea’s crypto growth as Ripple expands custody with BDACS for XRP and RLUSD. Source: Monica Long via X

Ripple President Monica Long emphasized the growing demand for institutional custody solutions securely and stated, “South Korea is set to ride a wave of institutional crypto adoption—ready for Ripple Custody to grab another flag for APAC with BDACS for XRP and RLUSD.” This move once more illustrates Ripple’s commitment to advancing the infrastructure backing business entry into crypto.

Aligning with South Korea’s Regulatory Roadmap

The collaboration between Ripple and BDACS is consistent with the South Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC) institutional participation roadmap for digital assets. Through its collaboration with BDACS, Ripple aims to provide the required custody infrastructure that complies with local regulations and fosters the broader use of blockchain technology in the country.

Ripple’s partnership with BDACS strengthens institutional crypto custody in South Korea, enhancing compliance and trust in XRP and RLUSD. Source: X

According to Ripple, the partnership will be a key driving force in making the useability of RLUSD, its stablecoin, and its development in the XRP Ledger (XRPL) developer community bigger. The company clarified, “This partnership will help grow XRPL developers and its ecosystem, enhance the useability of Ripple’s stablecoin (RLUSD), and capitalize on synergies with Busan, Korea’s blockchain regulation-free zone.”

BDACS CEO Harry Ryoo echoed the significance of this collaboration, emphasizing security and reliability in digital asset management. “BDACS will provide a secure and reliable custody service to support Ripple’s pioneering blockchain initiatives. Ultimately, this partnership will enable both companies to enhance and expand the digital asset ecosystem.”

Ripple’s Institutional DeFi Roadmap

Besides the BDACS partnership, Ripple has also established a blueprint for institutional decentralized finance (DeFi) on the XRP Ledger. This includes creating a permissioned decentralized exchange (DEX), a credit-based DeFi lending protocol, and a new token standard. the multi-purpose token (MPT). These will construct an optimized, scalable, and regulated DeFi structure for institutional players.

Ripple APAC Managing Director Fiona Murray emphasized the significance of this growth by stating, “With the crypto market thriving and new opportunities emerging under the FSC’s regulatory roadmap, we view this partnership as a vital step in furthering the digital asset ecosystem.” The growing demand for compliant institutional DeFi products puts Ripple in a position to be a principal bridge between traditional finance and blockchain-based innovation.

Institutional Demand for Crypto Custody on the Rise

As institutional investment in digital assets picks up momentum, the need for safe custody solutions is expected to expand exponentially. The industry estimates that the size of custodied cryptocurrencies will hit $16 trillion by 2030. Ripple’s tie-up with BDACS is a strategic decision to access this growing market while complying with South Korea’s regulatory environment.

Ripple’s partnership with DZ Bank, managing $350B in assets, sets a new benchmark for institutional crypto custody under German eWpG law, boosting XRP demand. Source: Collin Brown via X

With BDACS providing custody services in Korea’s regulatory landscape, investors will be able to have the infrastructure to trade XRP, RLUSD, and other digital assets securely. This could encourage further institutional involvement and solidify South Korea as a top hub for blockchain and crypto innovation.

Ripple’s Continued Expansion in APAC

Ripple’s focus on the APAC region has been evident from its recent action, including setting up the XRPL Japan and Korea Fund mid-2024. The well-supported fund for tens of millions of dollars looks to spur XRPL innovation via the provision of financial, technical, and commercial assistance to builders. Ripple has also been extremely busy working on community blockchain projects, hackathons, and education to encourage wider adoption of the technology.

Ripple (XRP) was trading at around $2.19, down 0.4% in the last 24 hours at press time. Source: XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX) via Brave New Coin

The partnership with BDACS is another major milestone in Ripple’s APAC plan, its commitment to institutional crypto adoption in one of the most dynamic digital asset markets in the region. As South Korea continues to build out its regulatory framework, Ripple’s presence in the country will play a key role in the future of institutional cryptocurrency adoption.

Looking Forward

Ripple’s partnership with BDACS is a significant development in South Korea’s institutional crypto landscape. By integrating Ripple Custody, BDACS is poised to provide secure and compliant custody services for XRP, RLUSD, and other digital assets. As regulatory clarity increases and institutional interest grows, this collaboration could pave the way for broader blockchain adoption in the region, further cementing Ripple’s role in the evolving global digital economy.

Watch – XRP Price Prediction Video