Ripple has furthered its presence in the Middle East by entering into a strategic partnership with Bahrain FinTech Bay (BFB), a leading fintech hub in the kingdom. This alliance aims to boost blockchain adoption in Bahrain through several initiatives, including pilot projects and proof-of-concept demonstrations of blockchain technology, cross-border payments, stablecoins, and tokenization. Additionally, Ripple plans to expand its digital asset infrastructure by extending its Ripple USD (RLUSD) offering and digital asset custody solutions to local financial institutions. Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for Middle East & Africa, highlighted Bahrain’s early adoption of crypto regulation as a significant factor in the partnership. Suzy Al Zeerah, Chief Operating Officer of BFB, emphasized the alliance’s potential to connect global innovators with Bahrain’s financial ecosystem, fostering talent, experimentation, and growth within the region’s digital finance landscape. Ripple’s participation at Fintech Forward 2025 in Sakhir further highlights its commitment to the region, while also signifying a significant milestone as it continues to build a regulatory-compliant bridge for digital assets across the Gulf.