Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Ripple to Acquire BC Payments to Obtain Australian Financial Services License

The move fast-tracks a locally licensed, end-to-end payments stack in a market tightening digital-asset rules.

Overview

  • Ripple said it will buy BC Payments Australia, a Banking Circle subsidiary, to gain an AFSL, with closing targeted for April 1, 2026, pending standard completion processes.
  • The AFSL would let Ripple Payments manage onboarding, compliance, funding, foreign exchange, liquidity, settlement and payout through a single integration with direct oversight of settlement and local payouts.
  • Ripple reported APAC payments volume nearly doubled in 2025 alongside about $100 billion processed globally across 60 markets, and it already serves Australian clients such as Hai Ha Money Transfer, Stables, Caleb & Brown, Flash Payments and Independent Reserve.
  • The company confirmed participation in Project Acacia, the Reserve Bank of Australia–DFCRC initiative focused on digital-asset infrastructure.
  • Australia’s Digital Asset Framework has passed the lower house and is before the Senate, while ASIC has signaled no licensing enforcement until at least June 30, 2026, creating a near-term window for market adjustments.