Из жизни альткоинов

Crypto pundit X Finance Bull has explained what Ripple’s FCA approval means for XRP and cross-border payments in the U.K. This comes as the altcoin continues to gain adoption through Ripple’s efforts, with XRP notably at the centre of the crypto firm’s cross-border payment services.

XRP To Gain Greater Adoption Through Ripple’s FCA Approval

In an X post, X Finance Bull stated that U.K. institutions are now cleared to send cross-border payments using XRP and the XRP Ledger. He noted that this is now possible as Ripple has secured FCA approval to scale its payment platform in the U.K. In line with this, the pundit declared that adoption is accelerating and urged the XRP army to stay on alert, as they are still early. 

Meanwhile, X Finance Bull also admitted that the company’s regulatory headway in the U.K. makes partnerships easier. That way, the crypto firm can easily partner with institutions to advance XRP’s adoption and the use of its stablecoin, RLUSD, in cross-border transactions.  

In its press release, Ripple announced that it had secured approval of its Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence and Cryptoasset Registration from the U.K.’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The firm further noted that these permissions will allow it to expand its licensed payments platform, thereby enabling U.K. institutions to send cross-border payments using XRP and other digital assets. 

The payment firm also highlighted its ties to XRP in the release, noting that it contributes to and builds its products on the XRP Ledger, which uses XRP as its native token for fast, low-cost settlement of value across borders. It is worth noting that this development comes amid other bullish developments for XRP, including Ripple-backed Evernorth’s strategic collaboration with Doppler to explore ways to deploy XRP at scale. 

XRP Remains The Heartbeat Of Ripple’s Vision

In an X post, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse assured that XRP has been and will continue to be the heartbeat of Ripple’s vision to enable the Internet of Value. This came as he highlighted the firm’s success last year, including two major acquisitions, Ripple Prime and GTreasury, which he noted greatly accelerated and expanded their ability to deliver on this vision.  

Garlinghouse further remarked that they are poised to make 2026 even more consequential with the most comprehensive licensing portfolio, having added the U.K.’s EMI license. He noted that building and using crypto infrastructure, updating their global financing plumbing, and rethinking legacy systems don’t happen overnight. As such, they plan to continue taking the long view of what crypto-based assets such as XRP and RLUSD can do rather than chasing cycles and hype.

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $2.09, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Основательница и гендиректор компании ARK Invest Кэти Вуд (Cathie Wood) в подкасте Bitcoin Brainstorm заявила, что власти США могут начать пополнять резервы биткоинов за счет прямых покупок перед промежуточными выборами в ноябре.

Основатель блокчейн-проекта Cardano Чарльз Хоскинсон (Charles Hoskinson) предположил, что к середине года курс биткоина может достигнуть нового исторического максимума — $250 000.

Во Франции сотрудница налогового управления региона Иль‑де‑Франс Галия С. (Ghalia C.) подозревается в передаче конфиденциальных данных из налоговых баз. По версии следствия, она «сливала» информацию о криптоактивах преступным группировкам.

Роспатент зарегистрировал товарный знак платформы Hadron, предназначенной для токенизации активов. Площадка принадлежит компании Tether — крупнейшему эмитенту стейблкоина USDT.

The Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon) has taken a significant step forward in the cryptocurrency and digital asset space by introducing tokenized deposit capabilities specifically for institutional clients. 

Tokenized Deposits Launch At BNY Mellon

According to reports on the matter, the new system operates on a private, permissioned blockchain. Traditional deposit balances will still be recorded in the bank’s conventional systems, offering clients both security and flexibility.

BNY Mellon expressed that the introduction of tokenized deposits could facilitate significant improvements in efficiency. According to Carolyn Weinberg, the bank’s Chief Product and Innovation Officer: 

Tokenized deposits provide us with the opportunity to extend our trusted bank deposits onto digital rails—enabling clients to operate with greater speed across collateral, margin, and payments, within a framework built for scale, resilience, and regulatory alignment.

The launch is part of a broader initiative to bridge traditional banking with emerging digital infrastructures, including stablecoins and tokenized money market funds. 

In the long run, BNY Mellon envisions that tokenized deposits will support rules-based, near real-time cash movements, further easing settlement processes and enhancing liquidity for institutional clients.

Yuval Rooz, co-founder and CEO of Digital Asset, welcomed the opportunity to partner with BNY Mellon, highlighting how this initiative represents a practical, institution-ready approach to tokenization. 

He noted that bringing deposit balances on-chain could significantly enhance asset mobilization and unlock liquidity across critical workflows.

Major Financial Players Join

Market expert MartyParty provided insights into the implications of this launch, stating that tokenized deposits create an on-chain digital representation—a “wrapper”—of actual client cash balances held in traditional BNY accounts. 

He emphasized that the real money remains secure within the regulated banking ecosystem, accruing interest and remaining a direct liability of BNY Mellon, designated as a globally systemically important bank (G-SIB).

Unlike stablecoins or other crypto assets, tokenized deposits represent programmable bank money on a private blockchain, synchronized with core banking records. 

The benefits are substantial, enabling 24/7 operations, instant or near-instant transfers, and programmable payments that execute under specific conditions. 

This advancement is also expected to reduce the friction associated with legacy systems and significantly improve liquidity efficiency, even outside of traditional banking hours.

The list of initial participants in this initiative  includes the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), Citadel Securities, DRW Holdings, Ripple Prime, Circle (the issuer of USDC), Anchorage Digital, Galaxy, Invesco, and Baillie Gifford. 

These institutions will be testing real workflows such as collateral management and high-value settlements, further validating the effectiveness of BNY Mellon’s new offering.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

In a significant development, Ripple has expanded its footprint in regulated markets after gaining regulatory approval from the UK’s financial authorities to provide payment services.

Ripple Obtains FCA Approval

On Friday, Ripple secured a major regulatory victory in the UK by officially obtaining its registration approval with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) through its subsidiary Ripple Markets UK Ltd.

According to the FCA’s official records, the company obtained an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license under the country’s Money Laundering Regulations (MLR). Therefore, it will be able to conduct certain crypto-related activities in the UK.

The EMI registration will allow Ripple to provide payment services and issue electronic money, according to the FCA website. However, it will remain subject to key restrictions without the financial authority’s approval.

First, “Ripple Markets UK Ltd will not, without the prior written consent of the Authority, provide the following services: 1. The firm will not operate a machine which utilises any automated processes to exchange cryptoassets for money or money for cryptoassets 2. Offer or commence any services to retail clients,” the records read.

In addition, the company cannot appoint any agents or distributors, and “will not issue electronic money, or provide payment services, to a consumer, micro-enterprise or charity.”

Ripple’s regulatory approval comes amid the authorities’ efforts to develop a comprehensive financial services regulation that integrates crypto assets into the existing framework, positioning the UK as a global crypto hub.

As reported by Bitcoinist, the UK Treasury is set to extend existing laws to cover crypto firms, moving exchanges, wallet providers, and other crypto service companies from the current anti-money-laundering registration to the regulatory regime of banks and brokers.

FCA To Start New Registration Regime In September

Ahead of the new rules’ implementation, set to take effect in October 2027, the FCA recently unveiled a timeline for crypto firms to comply with the new registration regime, which could affect Ripple’s recent victory.

On January 8, the financial regulator published a notice informing that it expects to open the application period for crypto firms requesting authorization in September 2026.

Notably, firms seeking to undertake any of the new crypto asset regulated activities will need new approvals to undertake those activities authorized by the FCA under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA).

Therefore, crypto companies operating in the UK must secure approval or a variation of the existing permission. The FCA emphasized that “firms that are registered with us under the MLRs should note that there will be no automatic conversion and that they will need to secure authorisation by us under FSMA prior to the commencement of the new regime.”

Based on this, Ripple’s UK subsidiary will need to reapply in September to continue conducting regulated crypto activities under the new regime. Firms that apply during the established window are expected to receive a decision before the rules take effect. Nonetheless, companies that have not received approval by October 2027 will be allowed to continue operating until a decision is made.

Meanwhile, companies that miss the application period or are not authorized before the new rules are enacted will enter a “transitional provision.” This will allow them to continue fulfilling existing contracts, but they won’t be able to conduct new regulated crypto activities in the UK until they are authorized.