Ripple Expands African Presence with Absa Digital Asset Custody Partnership

Ripple has strengthened its presence in Africa with the launch of Absa Digital Asset Custody, a service that provides bank-backed digital asset storage for institutional clients and asset managers. The platform uses Ripple's custody technology to securely store and manage cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, XRP, and tokenized real-world assets.

According to Reece Merrick, Ripple Middle East and Africa Managing Director, the partnership with Absa Corporate and Investment Banking is a significant milestone for the company. 'We're proud to partner with Absa Corporate and Investment Banking on the launch of Absa Digital Asset Custody,' he said.

Absa Head of Digital Product, Custody Robyn Lawson stated that the bank chose Ripple's technology because it meets high security and operational standards. The launch builds on a previous partnership announced in October 2025, when Absa became Ripple's first major custody partner in Africa.

The deal gives Ripple access to Absa's extensive network, with the bank managing over 2.07 trillion South African rand ($119.5 billion) in assets. This expansion is particularly significant given the growing demand for regulated custody and institutional crypto services in Africa, where Sub-Saharan on-chain volume topped $205B through June 2025.