Ripple, Meritz Explore Digital Asset Custody

• Ripple and Meritz will explore custody and tokenization for South Korea’s markets.
• Meritz is reviewing ETFs, tokenized securities, trading platforms and stablecoins.
• Korea’s upcoming security token rules could expand institutional digital asset access.

Ripple has partnered with South Korean brokerage Meritz Securities to explore digital asset custody and tokenization infrastructure. The agreement comes as Korea prepares rules that could expand institutional access to digital assets.

Ripple and Meritz Explore Digital Asset Infrastructure

Meritz Securities announced the strategic partnership with Ripple on Oct. 7 following an Oct. 1 signing ceremony. The event took place at Meritz Securities’ headquarters in Seoul’s Yeouido district.

Meritz CEO Jang Won-jae and Ripple President Monica Long attended the signing ceremony. The companies will examine how Ripple Custody and tokenization infrastructure could support South Korea’s capital markets.

Ripple Custody provides institutional infrastructure for storing and managing digital assets. Meanwhile, Ripple’s tokenization technology supports the creation and management of blockchain-based financial assets.

The companies will initially operate within existing securities regulations and applicable digital asset rules. However, cooperation could expand as South Korea develops its regulatory framework.

Meritz said the partnership combines Ripple’s digital asset infrastructure with its existing capital markets capabilities. The securities firm plans to develop related services gradually as regulations become clearer.

Meritz Reviews ETFs, Tokenized Securities and Stablecoins

The partnership forms part of Meritz Securities’ broader preparations for digital assets entering regulated finance. The company is reviewing several potential business areas alongside custody and tokenization.

These areas include spot digital asset exchange-traded funds, fractional investment products and security token offerings. Meritz is also considering digital asset trading platforms and Korean won-denominated stablecoins.

The firm has not announced a specific product launch or commercial timetable under the Ripple agreement. Instead, the initial focus remains on identifying services that can operate within existing regulations.

South Korea is also preparing a legal framework for security tokens. Amendments related to tokenized securities are scheduled to take effect on February 4, 2027.

That timeline gives financial institutions additional incentives to develop infrastructure before broader market access expands. Meritz’s review therefore covers both immediate regulatory possibilities and longer-term digital asset services.

Ripple has also expanded its work with Korean financial institutions during 2026. The company previously partnered with Kyobo Life Insurance on infrastructure for tokenized government bond settlement.

Ripple has separately worked with K Bank on digital asset infrastructure, adding to its growing presence within Korea’s financial sector.

Ripple Expands Institutional Digital Asset Business

The Meritz partnership extends Ripple’s broader strategy of providing digital asset infrastructure to financial institutions. The company was founded in 2012 and is headquartered in San Francisco.

Ripple provides blockchain-based financial solutions across more than 90 countries. Its institutional offerings include custody, tokenization, payments and stablecoin infrastructure.

The company has increasingly targeted regulated financial institutions as digital assets become more closely integrated with traditional markets. Custody and tokenization remain important components of that strategy.

However, the Meritz agreement does not confirm that XRP will be used in future products. It also does not establish that RLUSD or the XRP Ledger will serve as settlement infrastructure.

Fiona Murray, Ripple’s managing director for Asia-Pacific, said the companies will explore how digital asset infrastructure can support Korea’s capital markets.

For Meritz, the agreement provides a framework for evaluating digital asset services before regulatory changes take effect. The companies are expected to begin within existing rules before potentially expanding cooperation.