RLUSD Breaks $1 Billion on Ethereum as Ripple Wins Regulatory Greenlight in Abu Dhabi

• RLUSD supply has crossed $1.26 billion across Ethereum and XRPL.
• Abu Dhabi’s approval gives RLUSD legal backing for regulated financial use in ADGM.

Ripple’s regulated stablecoin RLUSD has surpassed $1.026 billion in supply on the Ethereum network. This growth has come in less than a year since its launch in December 2024. RLUSD has now become one of the fast-growing stablecoins, and its combined supply on Ethereum and the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has reached $1.261 billion.

RLUSD has gained attention for its compliance-focused structure. It is issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company, a New York-chartered trust firm affiliated with Ripple. This approach has made it a preferred option among institutions seeking regulated digital assets.

Market data places RLUSD currently at 13th among stablecoins by market capitalisation. To enter the top five, it would need to overtake MakerDAO’s DAI, which holds a market cap of $4.42 billion. Analysts believe it is on track, given the pace of its expansion and growing regulatory clarity around its use.

Ripple Gains ADGM Approval for RLUSD

Abu Dhabi’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority granted formal recognition to RLUSD as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token on November 27. This approval gives the stablecoin legal standing for use in regulated financial activities inside the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the UAE’s primary financial centre.

The FSRA had updated its digital asset rules earlier this year, creating a foundation for greater institutional involvement while applying strict regulatory controls. These reforms were intended to encourage the use of digital assets in mainstream finance while ensuring a clear legal structure for oversight. Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, emphasised the company’s regulatory focus following the FSRA decision. He said,

Ripple Eyes Wider RLUSD Adoption

The recent approval from Abu Dhabi fits into a larger strategy by Ripple to grow its presence across the Middle East and Africa. As we reported earlier, the company formed a partnership with Bahrain FinTech Bay. The agreement aims to support development in the country’s crypto infrastructure.

Ripple has also signed a custody agreement in the UAE to support tokenisation of property titles using the XRP Ledger. This points to a wider strategy involving the integration of real-world assets into digital systems. With a growing list of regulatory approvals and increasing institutional interest, RLUSD’s role as a stable and compliant settlement asset continues to expand. The Middle East has become a strategic region for Ripple’s stablecoin initiatives, positioning it for wider adoption across regulated financial hubs.