TLDR
- Ripple targets acquisition of BC Payments Australia to obtain Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) credentials
- April 1, 2026 marks the expected completion date, accelerating Ripple’s entry into Australia’s regulated financial market
- APAC payment volumes for Ripple surged close to 200% year-over-year during 2025, part of $100 billion processed globally through 60 markets
- XRP reached $1.38 at announcement time, showing 0.3% daily gains and 1.7% weekly increases
- Ripple gains membership in Project Acacia, the Reserve Bank of Australia’s digital asset infrastructure program
Ripple aims to obtain Australian financial licensing through the purchase of a payments firm that already maintains the necessary credentials. This strategy enables the company to launch regulated cryptocurrency payment offerings in Australia while bypassing lengthy new application processes.
The blockchain payments firm revealed its intention to purchase BC Payments Australia Pty Ltd, a corporate subsidiary connected to Europe’s Banking Circle Group. This transaction provides Ripple with access to an Australian Financial Services License, which company leadership describes as essential for expanding payment operations throughout the region.
April 1 represents the projected closing date for this acquisition, according to Fiona Murray, Ripple’s APAC managing director. Murray indicated that “enough institutional interest in digital assets” exists to justify the financial commitment.
Acquiring an established company with existing AFSL credentials represents Ripple’s chosen approach over submitting a fresh license application. This acquisition path offers quicker market entry, contingent upon successful deal completion.
Once the AFSL becomes operational, Ripple gains capability to oversee complete payment workflows — spanning customer onboarding, regulatory compliance, funding processes, currency exchange, liquidity operations, and final disbursement — integrating conventional banking infrastructure with blockchain-based assets within a unified platform.
Australian businesses currently utilizing Ripple Payments include Hai Ha Money Transfer, Stables, Caleb & Brown, Flash Payments, and Independent Reserve.
Ripple’s APAC Growth
Ripple reported APAC payment volumes approaching a twofold increase compared to the previous year throughout 2025, while withholding precise numerical data. This regional expansion contributes to the company’s recently announced achievement of processing $100 billion in total transaction volume spanning 60 global markets.
The company has also secured participation in Project Acacia, a Reserve Bank of Australia initiative developed alongside the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre, concentrating on blockchain asset infrastructure development.
Australia continues advancing its cryptocurrency regulatory structure. The Digital Asset Framework legislation cleared the lower parliamentary chamber during February and currently awaits Senate consideration. ASIC, Australia’s financial markets oversight body, has announced it will postpone enforcement actions regarding licensing requirements until June 30, 2026 at the earliest.
Ripple’s Broader Licensing Push
This Australian acquisition forms one component of an expansive licensing campaign. Throughout the past year, Ripple obtained payment authorization in Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom. The company additionally received preliminary approval for a national trust banking charter within the United States.
Ripple extended its reach through multiple acquisitions, purchasing Hidden Road — subsequently rebranded as Ripple Prime — establishing itself as the inaugural crypto-native entity to operate a multi-asset prime brokerage. The company also acquired GTreasury, a corporate treasury management platform.
Murray expressed optimism that obtaining AFSL status could help mitigate crypto debanking challenges facing Australian users, where leading financial institutions have implemented restrictions limiting customer transfers to cryptocurrency platforms. Australia’s four dominant banks — Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, National Australia Bank, and Westpac — have each established varying forms of these limitations.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase maintains parallel efforts to secure AFSL approval within the upcoming months.
XRP achieved a trading price of $1.38, registering 0.3% daily appreciation and 1.7% weekly gains at the time of Ripple’s announcement.
