Blockchain payments firm Ripple is set to introduce RLUSD in the Kingdom of Bahrain as part of a recent partnership with Bahrain Fintech Bay (BFB).

According to an October 9 announcement, Ripple will collaborate with Bahrain’s leading fintech incubator to help expand the country’s digital asset ecosystem. 

Some of the key areas the Ripple and BFB will explore include pilot projects focused on blockchain infrastructure, tokenisation, stablecoin use cases, and cross-border payment solutions, among others.

For Ripple, the partnership is a strategic step toward contributing to Bahrain’s ambition of becoming a regional hub for digital finance and regulatory innovation.

But it also positions the company to introduce its homegrown stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), in another jurisdiction as part of its global expansion plans.

In the coming months, Ripple intends to make RLUSD available to financial institutions across Bahrain alongside its institutional custody solution.

RLUSD’s rollout in the country is expected to be part of broader sandbox experiments and institutional trials supported by the central bank.

“The Kingdom of Bahrain has emerged as an early adopter of blockchain technology, and was one of the first jurisdictions globally to regulate cryptoassets. At Ripple, we look forward to working with Bahrain Fintech Bay to continue laying the foundations for a thriving local blockchain industry,” said Reece Merrick, Managing Director, Middle East and Africa at Ripple.

Bahrain Fintech Bay, which has played an active role in shaping fintech regulation in the country, echoed a similar outlook about the long-term goals of this new partnership.

BFB COO Suzy Al Zeerah said the partnership is meant to “bridge global innovators with the local ecosystem,” particularly in areas like pilot testing, talent development, and financial infrastructure design.

On top of this, the partnership will also see Ripple and BFB working together on a range of educational initiatives and accelerator programs.

These include knowledge-sharing events, startup mentoring, and cross-border collaboration efforts involving banks, regulators, and blockchain firms. 

Ripple is also participating in Bahrain’s Fintech Forward 2025 event, where industry leaders have been discussing how emerging technologies can reshape traditional finance.

Ripple’s decision to expand into Bahrain follows the introduction of a new regulatory framework that was greenlighted by the country’s central bank in July this year. 

Under the new regulations, licensed entities can launch fiat-backed tokens denominated in Bahraini dinar, U.S. dollars, or other accepted currencies.

Beyond Bahrain, Ripple has been aggressively expanding the footprint of RLUSD across global markets. 

In Africa, the company launched the stablecoin with support from Chipper Cash, Yellow Card, and VALR, targeting use cases such as remittances, trading collateral, and treasury management. 

Ripple has also established distribution plans for RLUSD in Japan through a partnership with SBI Holdings, set to launch in early 2026.

In Europe, Swiss-regulated AMINA Bank became the first global bank to offer RLUSD custody and trading services.

At the time, AMINA’s product chief called Ripple “an ideal collaborator” in the effort to build compliant digital finance rails for professional investors.

Early in 2025, RLUSD also received regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority, becoming one of the few stablecoins cleared for use inside the Dubai International Financial Centre.

At press time, RLUSD remains the 12th largest stablecoin in terms of trading volume, and is still significantly smaller in terms of market cap compared to market leader USDT and USDC.

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