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RLUSD Stablecoin Cleared for Regulated Use in ADGM
Ripple’s dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, has been cleared for institutional use in Abu Dhabi after receiving recognition as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token from the local regulator.
In a Thursday announcement, Ripple stated that the approval allows regulated firms to utilize Ripple USD (RLUSD)within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) financial zone, an international financial center and free zone located on Al Maryah and Al Reem Islands.
RLUSD Emerges as a Major Institutional Stablecoin
Jack McDonald, senior vice president of stablecoins at Ripple, commented:
“With a market capitalization of over $1 billion and growing adoption in core financial uses like collateral and payments, RLUSD is quickly becoming a go-to USD stablecoin for major institutions.”
The approval was granted by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), which oversees activity in the ADGM. Licensed companies can use RLUSD for approved activities, provided they meet compliance requirements linked to fiat-referenced tokens, including reserve management and disclosure obligations.
Ripple’s Expansion in the UAE
Ripple has been steadily expanding its digital-asset services across the UAE. In October 2024, the company sought a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), obtaining in-principle approval later that month.
By March, Ripple received full regulatory approval to provide cross-border crypto payment services within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), a major free economic zone with its own regulatory framework.
In June, the DFSA approved RLUSD for regulated activities in the DIFC, enabling its use for payments, treasury management, and other compliant financial services.
Additionally, Ripple has onboarded early users including Zand Bank and fintech app Mamo, integrating them with its blockchain-based payments platform, Ripple Payments.
RLUSD: Fully Backed and Dollar-Pegged
Launched in late 2024, RLUSD operates under a limited-purpose trust charter from the New York Department of Financial Services. The stablecoin is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar and fully backed by cash and equivalents, ensuring transparency and stability in its value.
UAE’s Regulatory Oversight of DeFi and Web3
Earlier this week, the UAE passed a new central bank law extending formal oversight to decentralized finance (DeFi) and much of the Web3 sector.
Federal Decree Law No. 6 of 2025, effective September 2025, requires protocols, platforms, and infrastructure providers involved in payments, lending, custody, exchanges, or investment services to obtain licenses from the Central Bank of the UAE by September 2026.
This move underscores the UAE’s commitment to regulated adoption of digital finance while maintaining institutional standards for stablecoins like RLUSD.
