Ripple is reported to have acquired BC Payments Australia in a move tied to securing an Australian Financial Services License, or AFSL. The development landed as XRP traded near $1.38, with a sharp rise in activity drawing fresh attention to Ripple’s regulatory push and its expanding institutional focus.
According to the report, BC Payments Australia is linked to the European Banking Circle Group. If the licensing path tied to the deal is completed, Ripple would gain a regulated foothold in Australia and use it to offer services aimed at financial institutions moving value more efficiently through blockchain-based infrastructure. APAC Managing Director Fiona Murray said institutional interest in Australia is strong.
Australia move fits Ripple’s broader licensing strategy
The reported acquisition comes alongside a wider message from Ripple leadership about international expansion. Chief executive Brad Garlinghouse recently pointed to visits to Dublin, London, Singapore, and Sydney as part of that effort. President Monica Long said licensing progress is continuing across regions and that the company now holds more than 75 licenses worldwide.
Leadership also met employees who joined through a series of acquisitions, including Hidden Road, Rail, Palisade, Solvexia, and GTreasury. Taken together, the Australia deal adds to a pattern: Ripple is building regulated market access first, then widening its reach with institutions. The approach is measured, but the intent is clear.
David Schwartz points to activity beyond XRPL
At the XRP Australia 2026 event, former Ripple CTO David Schwartz addressed what he described as a major misconception around the ecosystem. In his view, many observers treat the altcoin’s activity as if it is confined to the XRP Ledger, while much of the real activity happens outside the ledger itself.
He said that trading, liquidity services, and financial infrastructure account for a large share of that activity. The next phase, he added, is expected to center on solving practical financial problems through lending, decentralized exchanges, and tokenized assets. Ripple’s long-term direction remains institution-first, with retail adoption seen as something that could come later.
XRP holds near $1.38 while turnover expands
Price action stayed relatively steady as the corporate story developed. XRP traded around $1.38, with market capitalization near $84.95 billion. The stronger signal came from trading data. CoinMarketCap figures cited in the report show 24-hour trading volume rose 36.7% to roughly $3.27 billion.
On the chart, the report points to $1.45 as a resistance level if buying pressure remains firm, while a loss of the $1.35 support area could weaken short-term momentum. The altcoin season index also moved up to 36, suggesting an early rotation away from dominant assets. For now, licensing progress, institutional demand, and real financial use cases remain the main drivers keeping XRP in focus.