Key Takeaways
- •Ripple has received expanded regulatory approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to broaden its payment activities.
- •This move strengthens Ripple's institutional services and aligns with its recent strategic acquisitions.
- •The Asia-Pacific region is experiencing significant cryptocurrency adoption, with Singapore playing a central role.
Ripple Secures Wider Regulatory Approval in Singapore
Ripple Labs has received fresh approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to expand the scope of its operations under its Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence. The new authorization allows Ripple Markets APAC, the firm’s Singapore arm, to deepen its payment activity offerings as the company pushes further into institutional services across the region.
Huge news from Singapore: https://t.co/KVxTs7IEKc
The @MAS_sg has approved an expanded scope of payment activities for our Major Payment Institution license – enabling us to deliver end-to-end, fully licensed payment services to our customers in the region. 🇸🇬
— Ripple (@Ripple) December 1, 2025
Ripple President Monica Long stated that the approval reinforces the firm’s confidence in Singapore’s “forward-thinking regulatory environment.” She added that it strengthens Ripple’s ability to invest in local infrastructure to help financial institutions move money “efficiently, quickly and safely.”
Ripple Payments and Recent Acquisitions
Ripple Payments, the company’s cross-border settlement solution, utilizes digital payment tokens, including its stablecoin RLUSD and XRP, for global transfers. The system provides collection, holding, swapping, and payout services for banks and corporations, functioning as a comprehensive on- and off-ramp.
The expanded license comes during an active year of acquisitions for Ripple. Most recently, on November 4, the firm purchased Palisade, a crypto custody and wallet provider, to bolster its institution-focused portfolio.
Singapore Remains a Strategic Hub
Although Ripple secured its MPI license in 2023, the MAS website currently lists only digital payment token services under its supervised activities. These primarily cover buying, selling, or providing platforms for the exchange of digital tokens.
Ripple has operated in Singapore since 2017, describing the city-state as “pivotal” to its global strategy due to its regulatory clarity and proximity to major APAC markets.
APAC Crypto Adoption Hits New Highs
Cryptocurrency usage across the Asia-Pacific region is rising sharply. Fiona Murray, Ripple’s vice president and managing director for APAC, noted that on-chain activity in the region has grown around 70% year-over-year, with Singapore positioned “at the center of that growth.”
Chainalysis’ 2025 Global Adoption Index shows APAC leading worldwide growth, with total value received jumping 69% to $2.36 trillion. India, Pakistan, and Vietnam topped the regional rankings, while the Philippines, South Korea, and Thailand also made the global top 20.
Murray stated that the expanded approval enables Ripple to better support institutions, driving this momentum by offering a broader suite of regulated payment services.