**Ripple Partners with Absa Bank to Expand Digital Asset Custody in Africa**

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Ripple’s recent announcement of a partnership with Absa Bank, a leading pan-African financial institution, has generated significant interest within the crypto community. Bill Morgan, a prominent pro-XRP lawyer, explained that while the partnership primarily focuses on digital asset custody, it also signals the growing demand for Ripple’s payment infrastructure across the African continent.

This development highlights Ripple’s expanding influence in emerging markets, where financial institutions are increasingly seeking secure and compliant solutions for managing digital assets.

### XRP Advocate Highlights Ripple’s New Expansion in Africa

In an October 15 post on X (formerly Twitter), Bill Morgan emphasized that Ripple’s collaboration with Absa Bank is not just about providing a secure place to store digital assets. Rather, it reflects the broader adoption of Ripple’s technology across Africa.

Absa Bank confirmed on its official website that it plans to integrate Ripple’s institutional-grade digital asset custody system. This integration will provide clients in South Africa with a secure and scalable platform for storing tokenized assets, including cryptocurrencies.

### A Milestone Partnership for Ripple in Africa

With this new alliance, Absa Bank becomes the first major African financial institution to partner with Ripple in a custody capacity, marking a significant milestone for Ripple’s operations on the continent.

Ripple’s global custody network already spans Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, and now extends to Africa, further underscoring the company’s commitment to supporting financial institutions worldwide.

The alliance will also enable Absa to offer regulated digital asset services that comply with global standards. Robyn Lawson, Head of Digital Product, Custody at Absa Corporate and Investment Banking, stated that the bank aims to leverage proven technology to deliver next-generation financial infrastructure that prioritizes safety and operational efficiency.

This partnership reflects Absa Bank’s broader commitment to digital finance, emphasizing innovation and regulated solutions in a rapidly evolving financial landscape.

### Africa’s Growing Interest in Digital Assets

According to Absa Bank’s official website, institutional interest in blockchain-based solutions is increasing as regulatory frameworks around alternative investments across Africa become clearer.

Through this partnership, Ripple will equip Absa with the necessary tools to confidently introduce new digital asset offerings while meeting stringent security, operational, and compliance requirements.

Reece Merrik, Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa at Ripple, highlighted that the collaboration underscores the continent’s transformation in value exchange and storage. He added that it demonstrates Ripple’s dedication to helping financial institutions unlock the full potential of digital assets in Africa.

### Ripple’s Broader African Strategy

This partnership complements Ripple’s ongoing initiatives in Africa, including its support for the payment giant Chipper Cash and the launch of the USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD in the region.

Ripple’s 2025 New Value Report also reveals that the majority of financial leaders in the Middle East and Africa view faster cross-border payments as the primary driver for adopting blockchain-based solutions.

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*Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com.*
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