Ripple, Mastercard & Partners Pilot RLUSD Stablecoin for Faster Global Card Payments

In a groundbreaking initiative, Ripple, Mastercard, WebBank, and Gemini have partnered to pilot the use of RLUSD, a stablecoin backed by US dollars, for faster global card payments. This project utilizes the XRP Ledger as the basis for settlement, aiming to streamline fiat transactions while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The pilot program launched at Ripple’s Swell 2025 event and is being conducted under the supervision of the U.S. Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). WebBank, a partner in this venture, will explore using RLUSD for Mastercard payments on the XRP Ledger, marking one of the first instances of a regulated US bank employing a stablecoin on a public blockchain to settle traditional credit card transactions. This move could significantly reduce transaction settlement times and potentially increase efficiency across various financial institutions. Ripple emphasizes its vision for the XRP Ledger as a key enabler of efficient institutional payments, with a focus on scalability and security. The pilot is anticipated to provide valuable insights into the potential for blockchain-based settlements in existing card networks, potentially leading to wider adoption within the financial industry.