Global digital asset infrastructure leader Ripple has officially expanded its footprint in the Middle East through a strategic partnership with Bahrain Fintech Bay (BFB), the Kingdom’s premier fintech hub. This move marks Ripple’s latest milestone in the region, following the acquisition of a regulatory license from Dubai’s DFSA earlier this year.
Bahrain Fintech Bay, known for its collaboration with government entities and leadership in fintech ecosystem development, will work closely with Ripple to support the Kingdom’s growing digital assets ecosystem. The collaboration aims to drive proof-of-concept initiatives, pilot projects, and showcase Ripple’s blockchain solutions across areas such as cross-border payments, tokenisation, stablecoins, and digital asset custody.
“The Kingdom of Bahrain, has emerged as an early adopter of blockchain technology, and was one of the first jurisdictions globally to regulate cryptoassets,” said Reece Merrick, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa at Ripple. “At Ripple we look forward to working with Bahrain Fintech Bay to continue laying the foundations for a thriving local blockchain industry, as well as ultimately offering our digital assets custody solution and stablecoin Ripple USD (RLUSD) to Bahrain’s financial institutions.”
The partnership will also see both organizations engage in educational programs, accelerator initiatives, and local ecosystem events, as part of a broader mission to stimulate innovation and talent development within Bahrain’s fintech sector.
“Bahrain has long been recognised as a financial services hub, and today this legacy is being further enhanced in the digital assets and blockchain space,” said Suzy Al Zeerah, Chief Operating Officer at Bahrain Fintech Bay. “This partnership with Ripple reflects Bahrain FinTech Bay’s commitment to bridging global innovators with the local ecosystem, creating opportunities for pilots, talent development, and cutting-edge solutions that will shape the future of finance. Together, we are delivering on our goal of enhancing fintech innovation in the region.”
Ripple’s regional engagement continues this week at Fintech Forward 2025, an Economist Impact event hosted in Sakhir on October 8–9. The high-level gathering brings together financial experts, policymakers, and innovators to discuss the evolution of finance in an increasingly digital world.
With over a decade of experience and more than 60 global regulatory licenses, Ripple is well-positioned to support institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure needs. The firm’s DFSA license, granted in March 2025, made Ripple the first blockchain-enabled payments company to receive approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority – reinforcing its credibility and regulatory compliance across the GCC.
As Bahrain continues its push to lead regional innovation in blockchain and digital finance, this partnership signals another bold step forward in positioning the Kingdom as a next-generation financial hub.