TrustLinq, a Swiss-regulated crypto-to-fiat payment platform, has expanded its partnership with Ripple to enable global bank payments funded by the Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin. Holders of RLUSD can now pay suppliers, employees, and landlords worldwide directly from self-custodial wallets, with recipients receiving standard bank transfers in their local currency.
The new capability allows RLUSD holders to send payments to over 190 countries and 80 currencies. The funds remain in the client's wallet until the payment executes, at which point TrustLinq converts the required amount and delivers it via SEPA, Faster Payments, ACH, local payment corridors, or SWIFT, with most transfers arriving the same or next business day.
This expansion addresses a structural gap in stablecoin usage, as only about 1% of the approximately USD 35 trillion moving over stablecoin rails annually constitute real-world payments. TrustLinq's model allows stablecoin holders to settle obligations in fiat directly from self-custody, eliminating the need to sell through an exchange and transfer funds from a personal bank account.
Lili Metodieva, Co-Founder of TrustLinq, highlighted the significance of the expansion, stating that stablecoin holders have lacked ways to pay, not trade. She emphasized that RLUSD was built as regulated, enterprise-grade digital money, and this expansion gives it the last mile for real-world payments.