Ripple acquires Rail payments platform for USD $200 million

San Francisco's Ripple has agreed to acquire Rail, a Canadian stablecoin-powered payments platform, for USD $200 million.

The acquisition will see Ripple integrate Rail's virtual accounts and automated back-office infrastructure into its digital asset payments network. According to Ripple, this combination will offer a stablecoin payment solution for enterprises, enhancing digital asset liquidity and streamlining cross-border payment operations.

Ripple Payments currently provides a wide payment network with access to over 60 licenses to manage customer payment flows. The addition of Rail's platform is expected to extend Ripple's service by simplifying account infrastructure for customers and enabling always-on payment operations through a single API connection.

The acquisition comes amid increasing adoption of stablecoins in global finance. Ripple aims to capitalise on this growth by extending its stablecoin-based payment offerings and providing new options for businesses to make and receive payments internationally without requiring them to maintain cryptocurrency holdings on their own balance sheets.

"Stablecoins are quickly becoming a cornerstone of modern finance, and with Rail, we are uniquely positioned to drive the next phase of innovation and adoption of stablecoins and blockchain in global payments," said President of Ripple, Monica Long. "Ripple has one of the most widely used digital asset payment networks in the world, and this acquisition underscores our commitment to helping our global customer base to move money wherever and whenever they need."

Key features of the deal

Ripple outlined several features that will be available to business customers following the completion of the acquisition:

• Comprehensive stablecoin pay-ins and pay-outs across major payment corridors, including traditional currency payments, without requiring customers to directly hold crypto.
• Multi-asset support, enabling payments in digital assets such as RLUSD, XRP and others with a focus on premium liquidity and competitive pricing.
• Virtual account functionality, allowing businesses to transact in digital assets without opening specialised crypto bank accounts or wallets on centralised exchanges.
• Seamless integration for clients to access the unified payment network through a single API.
• Access to a multi-bank partner network designed to increase reliability and redundancy for global payment coverage.

Ripple stated that the expanded suite of services will allow customers to connect existing financial infrastructure with blockchain systems, obtain liquidity for stablecoins, and securely custody digital assets through regulated channels.

"Over the last four years, Rail built the fastest way to settle business payments internationally using stablecoins, and in 2025, Rail is forecasted to process over 10% of the $36B global B2B stablecoin payments. Ripple shares our vision, and together, we're excited to bring our innovation to the millions of businesses that move money internationally," said Bhanu Kohli, Chief Executive Officer of Rail.

Rail's payment infrastructure connects stablecoin technologies for clients such as fintechs, payment providers, neobanks and enterprises. Its services include virtual international bank account numbers (IBANs), named accounts, and both first-party and third-party payment support across a network involving more than 12 banking partners.

Mergers and market activity

Ripple has invested in mergers and acquisitions and other strategic activities totalling more than USD $3 billion to date. The company indicated that it remains active in exploring expansion opportunities through acquisitions to bolster its global presence and offerings within digital asset infrastructure.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Ripple expects to finalise the acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2025.