Ripple to Buy BC Payments for Australian License, Expanding APAC Payments Reach

Ripple, the blockchain payments pioneer behind XRP and RippleNet, is making headlines with a bold strategic push into the Asia-Pacific region. On March 11, 2026, Ripple announced plans to secure a full Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) through the proposed acquisition of BC Payments Australia Pty Ltd, marking a watershed moment in its global expansion strategy. This move not only solidifies Ripple’s regulatory credibility, but also turbocharges its vision to transform cross-border payments for financial institutions, fintech firms, and enterprises across the region.

Acquiring an AFSL unlocks a broad suite of regulated financial capabilities, from customer onboarding and compliance oversight to foreign exchange (FX) handling, liquidity management, and rapid payout execution. With the integration of Ripple’s blockchain-driven infrastructure into traditional finance rails, customers can expect faster, more transparent, and more cost-effective payments solutions that bridge legacy systems and modern digital assets.

What the Australian Financial Services Licence Means for Ripple

The Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) is one of the most respected regulatory credentials in the Asia-Pacific region. It empowers licensees to provide financial services, including arranging and executing transactions, dealing in financial products, and offering custodial or depository services, under a strict compliance regime overseen by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

By securing an AFSL through acquiring BC Payments, Ripple will be able to:

• Onboard clients directly under an Australian-regulated entity
• Manage full payment lifecycles, from funding to payout
• Offer FX execution and liquidity services under a licensed framework
• Operate with compliance, transparency, and risk controls
• Integrate blockchain innovation with traditional banking rails

This level of regulated capability is a significant upgrade from operating solely under partnerships or limited service licences. It positions Ripple Payments as a fully licensed APAC payments provider, capable of servicing both institutional and corporate clientele at scale.

Why Australia Is Central to Ripple’s APAC Strategy

Australia’s payments market is vast and vibrant, valued at nearly $1.7 trillion annually and underpinned by a highly regulated financial system. For Ripple, this market represents both a commercial opportunity and a strategic springboard for broader APAC expansion.

Over the past year, Ripple’s payments volume in APAC surged nearly 100% year-over-year, driven by growing demand for blockchain-enabled settlement solutions that offer superior speed and efficiency compared to conventional cross-border rails.

Ripple’s existing partnerships with key Australian players, including Hai Ha Money Transfer, Stables, Caleb & Brown, Flash Payments, and Independent Reserve, underscore the company’s deepening foothold in the region. These collaborations reflect growing institutional interest in digital asset-enabled cross-border settlement and foreign exchange solutions.

In comments surrounding the AFSL bid, Fiona Murray, Ripple’s Managing Director for Asia Pacific and Singapore head, emphasized the strategic importance of regulated licences. “Licensing is fundamental to Ripple’s strategy,” Murray said. “It ensures we can deliver secure, compliant solutions to customers worldwide.”

The Ripple-BC Payments Deal: What’s Next?

The acquisition of BC Payments Australia Pty Ltd is currently progressing through usual regulatory and completion processes. If all goes according to plan, the full capabilities under the AFSL could be activated as early as April 2026.

BC Payments, a well-established Australian payments firm, provides a strong regulatory foundation for Ripple’s licence application. Once integrated operationally, Ripple Payments will be equipped to offer a full stack of services under Australian regulation, including:

• Authorised deposit-taking and payout services
• Foreign exchange management
• Liquidity provisioning and optimization
• End-to-end compliance and risk monitoring
• Client onboarding and reporting frameworks

This strategic acquisition does not just add licence credentials. It embeds Ripple into the Australian regulated financial ecosystem with operational reach and accountability.

Ripple’s Regulatory Leadership in Crypto

Ripple already holds more than 75 regulatory licences worldwide, a clear outlier among its crypto industry peers. These licences span key global markets including Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and Europe, giving Ripple a regulatory footprint that few competitors can match.

That regulatory breadth has helped fuel institutional adoption of Ripple’s enterprise solutions. Financial institutions often cite licensed compliance structures as prerequisites for leveraging blockchain-based settlement and liquidity services. Ripple’s global licence stack, soon to include Australia’s AFSL, strengthens its position as a go-to provider of compliant blockchain payments infrastructure.

Ripple’s Role in Shaping Regulatory Frameworks

Beyond acquiring licences, Ripple is actively engaging with regulators and industry partners to shape the future of digital finance. In Australia, Ripple is involved in initiatives like Project Acacia, a collaboration supported by the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre, aimed at fostering scalable digital asset infrastructure.

Participation in frameworks like Project Acacia underscores Ripple’s willingness not only to comply with regulation, but to co-create regulatory frameworks that enable secure innovation at scale. This leadership approach helps reduce uncertainty for partners, clients, and regulators alike.

What This Means for the Future of Cross-Border Payments

Ripple’s acquisition of BC Payments and pursuit of an AFSL signals a maturing phase for blockchain-enabled payments, particularly in markets where compliance and regulation are non-negotiable.

Key takeaway benefits include:

• Institutional-grade compliance, meeting local regulatory requirements
• Faster cross-border settlement, compared to legacy correspondent banking
• Greater transparency and risk controls through blockchain visibility
• Lower transaction costs via efficient rail optimization
• Scalable integration with existing financial systems

For businesses and financial institutions operating in APAC, Ripple’s licensed offering promises to unlock new efficiencies in how value moves across borders, especially where traditional FX and settlement processes are slow, opaque, or costly.

Conclusion: A Transformative Step for Ripple in APAC

Ripple’s planned acquisition of BC Payments to secure an Australian Financial Services Licence represents more than a regulatory milestone. It is a strategic inflection point in the evolution of payments infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region.

By marrying licensed financial services with blockchain-enabled settlement innovation, Ripple is positioning itself as a trusted bridge between traditional finance and the next generation of global payments. This move not only enhances Ripple’s competitive edge, but accelerates the broader adoption of compliant digital asset-enabled solutions across regional markets.

As the deal progresses toward completion and Ripple integrates its new licence capabilities, the APAC payments landscape is poised for disruption, with faster settlements, clearer visibility, and stronger regulatory assurance at the forefront.

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