Standard Chartered Activates RLUSD Custody Service on XRP Ledger

Standard Chartered’s RLUSD custody on the XRP Ledger is live for eligible institutions. NFA.

Standard Chartered said on October 12, 2026 that its custody support for Ripple USD (RLUSD) on the XRP Ledger is now live. The announcement came from the bank’s Singapore operations and focused on access for eligible institutional clients. The service operates through Standard Chartered Bank’s DIFC Branch in Dubai. This setup gives institutions a route to hold RLUSD while using the XRP Ledger for transfers.

Service Structure and Ledger Role

The bank describes the XRP Ledger as a public blockchain built for fast and secure global financial transactions. In this setup the ledger supports movement of RLUSD between institutional counterparties. Eligible clients can now connect to the bank’s digital asset custody infrastructure for this purpose. The structure keeps existing risk and safeguarding standards in place rather than introducing new layers.

Partner Confirmation and Next Phase

LMAX Group released a statement on the same date confirming that the custody support is now live. The group framed the development as the next phase of its ongoing work with Ripple and Standard Chartered on RLUSD. LMAX Group also noted that RLUSD continues to gain importance in institutional digital asset markets. Ripple’s side of the project highlights that RLUSD was designed specifically for institutional use cases of this kind.

Institutional Perspective from the Bank

Standard Chartered’s Waqar Chaudry pointed out that institutions seek digital asset access while retaining strong safeguarding and risk controls. The custody offering addresses that preference by running through an established banking channel. No new client counts or specific participant names appear in the releases. The focus stays on the technical and operational readiness of the custody layer.

Timeline and Prior UAE Launch

Standard Chartered launched its broader digital asset custody service in the UAE on September 10, 2024. That earlier rollout initially covered bitcoin and ether. The October 12, 2026 step adds RLUSD support on the XRP Ledger to the existing UAE framework. Both dates remain distinct milestones in the bank’s digital asset timeline.

Collateral Integration Status

LMAX Group stated that RLUSD as eligible collateral at the group still requires further testing, documentation and approvals. Only the custody component reached live status on October 12, 2026. The planned collateral work remains separate from the custody go-live and is not yet operational.

Summary of the October 12 Releases

Both the Standard Chartered and LMAX Group statements from October 12, 2026 center on the custody activation. They also reference continued collaboration on future collateral features. The XRP Ledger connection provides the settlement layer while the DIFC Branch supplies the custody access point. Institutions that qualify can now use the combined setup for RLUSD holdings without altering their existing control requirements. The announcements keep attention on operational delivery rather than market metrics or participant volumes.