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- Ripple secured approval in Singapore to expand regulated payment services and support wider use of RLUSD and XRP

- The company is strengthening its institutional offerings as Asia-Pacific on-chain activity increases

- XRP dropped more than 7% even though trading volume increased sharply

Ripple has secured a major regulatory boost in Singapore, reinforcing its strategy to scale institutional payment services across Asia-Pacific. According to the statement, the Monetary Authority of Singapore cleared the company's local arm, Ripple Markets APAC, to widen its payment activities under the Major Payment Institution license.

The approval strengthens Ripple's ability to serve banks and corporates seeking faster and more efficient cross-border settlement using RLUSD (CRYPTO: $RLUSD ) and XRP (CRYPTO: $XRP ).

Singapore License Expansion Fuels Institutional Push

Ripple's expanded license allows it to support more regulated services across the city-state's financial sector. The move sharpens the company's competitive positioning as demand for on-chain settlement accelerates across the region.

Monica Long, Ripple's president, said Singapore's regulatory clarity gives the firm a foundation for deeper investment. She noted that broader permissions help accelerate infrastructure development for institutions that require secure and compliant payment rails. Ripple Payments, the firm's unified platform for collections, custody, FX conversion, and payouts, sits at the center of the upgraded offering.

Notably, the firm first entered Singapore in 2017 and secured its initial MPI license in 2023. The new approval widens its operational scope beyond existing token-related activities, allowing a broader set of institutional payment functions.

Major Backers Boost Ripple's Market Standing

Ripple continues to advance partnerships that support the practical use of digital assets in payments. Recently, the company joined Mastercard (NYSE: $MA ) and Gemini to test RLUSD stablecoin settlement for fiat card transactions.

Furthermore, the Asia Pacific region remains one of the most active zones for on-chain activity. Ripple's APAC Vice President, Fiona Murray, noted that the region saw a 70% year-over-year increase in blockchain usage, reflecting a rapid demand for digital payment infrastructure.

Institutional confidence in Ripple also strengthened after Citadel and Fortress invested $500 million, valuing the company at $40 billion. Meanwhile, RLUSD surpassed $1 billion in assets, becoming one of the largest stablecoins within a short period.

XRP Faces Selling Pressure

Despite the regulatory advancement, XRP traded lower, dropping more than 7% to $2.04. Selling pressure across the broader crypto market contributed to the decline, while intraday trading remained volatile between $2.04 and $2.21.

Trading volume jumped 57%, suggesting heightened activity as traders assess whether XRP is nearing oversold territory. Indicators show cautious sentiment. The Relative Strength Index hovers around 39–41, signaling fading buying pressure. Meanwhile, the MACD remains in bearish territory, with the signal line above the MACD line and momentum trending lower.

XRP continues forming lower highs, indicating that buyers remain defensive. A break below the $1.95–$2.00 support range could open the door for sharper losses. However, reclaiming $2.15 may spark a recovery attempt, especially if broader sentiment stabilizes.