The new protocol will function partly off-chain and draws inspiration from traditional banking models. Although it has sparked excitement within the ecosystem, there are also concerns about whether it might be considered an unlicensed lending product.

Aiming for a slice of a rapidly growing market, Ripple, the company behind the XRP Ledger, has announced its own stablecoin. The token, pegged to the value of the US dollar, is expected to launch later this year.

Ripple faces a hefty potential financial penalty following a new proposal from the SEC. The firm maintains the sales were legal and plans to contest the charges in April.

Ripple signed a deal to acquire Standard Custody & Trust Company, a custody provider licensed in New York, growing its portfolio of regulatory licenses in the U.S.

The crypto payments firm has unveiled two new initiatives to coincide with its Ripple Swell event in Dubai. Ripple Payments now provides a simplified platform for businesses, while a partnership with Onafriq will expand the company’s footprint across Africa and beyond.

The SEC has dismissed charges against Ripple, but the days of legal certainty for the crypto community in the U.S. are still far ahead.

In another victory for Ripple, a federal judge has dismissed the SEC's appeal request, paving the way for a final trial in April. Ripple has also recently secured a Singapore license, solidifying its commitment to the Asia Pacific expansion.

The Ripple vs SEC case is sadly still far from being settled. In mid-August the judge granted the SEC's request to file an interlocutory appeal, although Ripple now claims the regulator has failed to satisfy all the prerequisites necessary to justify this.