Ripple Director Confirms Mastercard, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton Showing Interest in XRP Ledger

A senior Ripple ecosystem leader has confirmed that major financial institutions, including Mastercard, BlackRock, and Franklin Templeton, are showing active interest in the $XRP Ledger (XRPL).

The development reinforces XRPL’s positioning as infrastructure for financial services. Speaking in a recent interview, Odelia Torteman, Director of Corporate Adoption at XRPL Commons, addressed growing institutional engagement with the network and what it could mean for $XRP holders.

Key Points

$XRP as a Functional Pillar of XRPL

Torteman explained that the $XRP Ledger is a decentralized protocol in which $XRP plays a central role as a bridge currency for transactions and settlements on the network. Essentially, $XRP functions as a vital component powering activity across the ecosystem.

She noted that XRPL supports a growing list of financial services use cases, products, and enterprise-grade offerings. In this context, holding $XRP can also mean gaining exposure to the infrastructure layer underpinning cross-asset settlements and transparent payments.

Institutions Exploring XRPL Capabilities

During the discussion, the host referenced the presence of major names such as Visa, Mastercard, BlackRock, and Franklin Templeton at recent XRPL-focused events, asking directly whether they are showing interest in the ledger.

Torteman responded affirmatively. She stressed that the $XRP Ledger, since its inception in 2012, has supported cross-asset, transparent payments. According to her, XRPL was built specifically for financial institutions.

She highlighted that the protocol includes several native features that appeal to enterprise users, including:

• A built-in automated market maker (AMM)
• Native decentralized exchange (DEX) functionality
• Trust lines
• Ongoing product development supporting compliance and KYC-related needs

These built-in capabilities, she suggested, reduce friction for institutions seeking blockchain solutions that align with regulatory frameworks.

Mastercard, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton in the $XRP Ecosystem

In recent months, Mastercard, BlackRock, and Franklin Templeton have expanded into the $XRP ecosystem through major partnerships with Ripple.

In September 2025, Ripple partnered with Franklin Templeton and DBS to launch tokenized lending and trading solutions using tokenized money market funds and $RLUSD.

Ripple executive Nigel Khakoo described the development as a breakthrough for institutional tokenization. He stated that combining a regulated stablecoin with a tokenized fund can improve liquidity and capital efficiency. DBS added that tokenized securities, such as money market funds, could enhance market liquidity and trust.

That same month, Ripple and Securitize partnered to allow investors in VanEck’s VBILL fund and BlackRock’s BUIDL fund to swap their shares directly for $RLUSD. The integration introduced always-on smart contract functionality, creating continuous liquidity for tokenized Treasury funds.

Ripple said the move advances its goal of connecting traditional finance with blockchain infrastructure. It gives investors a compliant and stable exit into $RLUSD while maintaining access to on-chain yields.

In November 2025, Mastercard partnered with Gemini and Ripple to pilot $RLUSD stablecoin settlements for card payments on the $XRP Ledger. The companies said the initiative marks a first for U.S.-regulated banks using blockchain for transaction settlement.

The project integrates regulated stablecoins into Mastercard’s payment network, allowing banks to complete card transactions on a public blockchain, with Ripple supporting faster and more transparent settlement through XRPL.

For $XRP holders, this growing institutional interest supports the idea that $XRP is not just a tradable asset, but also a bridge currency embedded in a blockchain designed for large-scale financial use.