Ripple, a global leader in blockchain-based payment solutions, has struck a strategic partnership with Bahrain FinTech Bay, a major expansion of operations in the Middle East. This collaboration aims to nurture the development of the Bahrain blockchain and digital asset ecosystem, with a strong focus on education, innovation, and payments with RLUSD.
Ripple’s expansion into Bahrain comes after a year of increased influence in the region. Earlier in 2025, Ripple was licensed by the Dubai financial regulator as the first blockchain payments company, a significant step for the company’s expansion in the Middle East. According to the announcement, this new collaboration with Bahrain FinTech Bay will help speed up Ripple’s growth in the region by offering solutions such as cross-border payments.
Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for Middle East and Africa, praised Bahrain’s forward-looking approach to blockchain adoption. “We look forward to working with Bahrain FinTech Bay to continue building the foundations for a thriving blockchain industry,” Merrick commented.
What Ripple’s New Partnership Means for Bahrain’s Fintech Future
Ripple’s partnership with Bahrain FinTech Bay will include several key initiatives. The companies will work together to test pilots on blockchain projects, demonstrating use cases such as digital payments, tokenization and adoption of stablecoins. Ripple and Bahrain FinTech Bay will also play a key role in developing education and accelerator programs to cultivate local talent and drive innovation.
The partnership also aims to support the growth of Bahrain’s fintech ecosystem through strategic market development and increased knowledge sharing. As Suzy Al Zeerah, COO of Bahrain FinTech Bay, noted, the collaboration offers global companies like Ripple a chance to get connected with Bahrain’s up-and-coming talent and innovations. “Together, we’re shaping the future of finance in Bahrain,” Al Zeerah said.
Ripple’s Expanding Footprint
Ripple’s partnership with Bahrain comes after the company recently expanded globally. In Dubai, Ripple has partnered with Ctrl Alt to digitize real estate transactions on XRP Ledger.
In Africa, Ripple has set its sights on growing its stablecoin, RLUSD, through partnerships with key payment platforms, including Chipper Cash, VALR and Yellow Card. Ripple is also collaborating with Luxembourg to bring RLUSD into the European market, under the EU’s new MiCA regulatory framework.
Ripple’s commitment to expand its footprint on a global scale is indicative of its growing influence in the blockchain and digital asset space. It currently holds more than 60 regulatory licenses globally, including the recent one from Dubai’s DFSA in March of 2025.
Ripple’s collaboration with Bahrain FinTech Bay is also in tandem with the company’s participation in Fintech Forward 2025, a major event hosted by Economist Impact in Bahrain on October 8-9. Additionally, Ripple was given top honours at the recent PAY360 Awards. Sponsored by Thunes Payments, the award recognised Ripple’s pioneering efforts in enhancing cross-border transaction efficiency through digital assets.
