Ripple Labs is set to obtain a crucial Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) through its acquisition of BC Payments, a deal scheduled for April 1. This strategic move will enable the blockchain payments provider to directly manage the full lifecycle of cross-border transactions for its enterprise clients across the Asia Pacific region.
The AFSL will allow Ripple to handle settlement, connect customers to local payout partners, and optimize transaction routing. Its Ripple Payments service will manage everything from customer onboarding and compliance to funding, foreign exchange, liquidity management, and final payout, integrating both traditional banking systems and digital assets.
"Licensing is fundamental to Ripple's strategy, ensuring we can deliver secure, compliant solutions to customers worldwide," stated Fiona Murray, Ripple's Vice President and Managing Director for Asia Pacific. "Australia is a key market for Ripple, and an AFSL strengthens our ability to scale Ripple Payments across the region."
The license underscores Ripple's significant growth in the region, where its payments volume nearly doubled year-over-year in 2025. The company already serves several Australian customers, including Hai Ha Money Transfer, Stables, Caleb & Brown, Flash Payments, and Independent Reserve.
This will be Ripple's 76th regulatory license globally, solidifying its position as one of the most regulated crypto firms internationally. The company also holds licenses in the European Union and the United Kingdom and recently received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish the Ripple National Trust Bank (RNTB).
Furthermore, Ripple is involved in Project Acacia, a research initiative led by the Reserve Bank of Australia exploring the integration of digital currencies with existing payment systems. The company is preparing to release a report on this project.
