Ripple has announced a new partnership with Bahrain’s Fintech Bay (BFB). This initiative seeks to promote the company’s offerings throughout the Gulf region, including digital asset innovation and payments powered by RLUSD.
Ripple Strengthens Presence in Bahrain
In a recent release, Ripple shared that it will jointly explore blockchain use cases with Fintech Bay in the Middle East. They intend to run pilot projects and foster fintech innovation through educational initiatives, accelerator programs, and ecosystem events.
The effort is expected to help develop the country’s digital finance landscape by promoting the use of blockchain-based cross-border payments, tokenization, stablecoins, and other financial technologies.
“The Kingdom of Bahrain has been an early mover in blockchain regulation and digital assets,” said Reece Merrick, the company’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa. “We’re excited to work with Fintech Bay to strengthen the local ecosystem and, over time, bring our digital asset custody and RLUSD stablecoin solutions to financial institutions across the country.”
Echoing the sentiment, Suzy Al Zeerah, COO of Bahrain Fintech Bay, said the partnership highlights the country’s growing role as a fintech powerhouse.
“This collaboration with Ripple will help bridge global innovators with the Bahraini market, supporting pilot projects, talent development, and the introduction of new blockchain-based solutions that will shape the future of finance,” she noted.
It is also worth noting that the company currently holds over 60 regulatory licenses and registrations worldwide. This includes an approval from Dubai’s DFSA in March 2025.
The firm will also participate in Fintech Forward 2025. This is an Economist Impact event hosted in Sakhir, Bahrain, on October 8–9, which brings together regulators, fintech companies, and banking leaders to discuss the evolution of the global financial industry
Ripple’s Expanding Global Footprint
The partnership follows the firm’s ongoing expansion drive across key global markets.
In Dubai, Ripple has also partnered with Ctrl Alt to revolutionize real estate transactions using the XRP Ledger. The project uses the firm’s system to securely manage property title deeds on a blockchain. This initiative aims to make real estate transactions more clear, efficient, and flexible.
Furthermore, last month, the company announced plans to bring RLUSD to Africa.They announced partnerships with payment platforms such as Chipper Cash, VALR, and Yellow Card.
In Europe, the company is using Luxembourg as its launchpad for the entry of RLUSD into the EU market under the bloc’s new MiCA regulatory framework. The company plans to establish RLUSD as a completely compliant settlement option for institutional clients through Ripple Payments Europe SA.
The partnership is a logical step forward for Bahrain’s blockchain aspirations. The nation was one of the first in the world to regulate cryptocurrency. As a result, they have kept drawing big players looking for market access and regulatory clarity in the Middle East.