Ripple’s game-changing stablecoin RLUSD is setting a new standard for transparency, compliance, and cross-chain scalability in institutional finance. Ripple RLUSD Aims to Redefine Stablecoin Utility Ripple shared on Sept. 16 an insight authored by Jack McDonald, senior vice president of stablecoins, focused on the company’s enterprise-grade stablecoin Ripple USD (RLUSD). McDonald detailed how RLUSD was designed to meet the most rigorous standards of compliance and transparency, with each unit backed 1:1 by U.S. dollar reserves held at U.S. banks and issued under the oversight of the New York Department of Financial Services. Issued across both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum, RLUSD was positioned as a scalable tool for cross-border payments, integrating fast settlement and low-cost transactions into a framework suitable for institutions. McDonald stated: As regulatory clarity increases and infrastructure matures, a growing number of companies are exploring stablecoin issuance. In his commentary, McDonald emphasized that RLUSD was intentionally designed to avoid the pitfalls of many branded stablecoins, which often remain confined to closed ecosystems. By enabling interoperability between networks, RLUSD was structured to ensure liquidity and portability, which he described as essential for any token aspiring to function as part of global financial infrastructure. His insight highlighted the shift in how stablecoins are viewed in the broader economy: In this new era, stablecoins are no longer just about disrupting traditional finance, they’re also becoming strategic tools for organizations looking to reduce costs, increase user engagement, or establish payment rails of their own. He underlined that RLUSD reflects Ripple’s approach to treating stablecoins not as marketing initiatives but as fundamental elements of a maturing digital economy. McDonald also cautioned that the regulatory clarity provided by the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act is only the beginning. He concluded: The GENIUS Act may open the door. But whether this new wave of branded stablecoins can move beyond novelty to truly reshape finance will depend on how seriously the architecture underpinning them is treated. Through RLUSD, Ripple sought to demonstrate how compliance-first design, transparency in reserves, and scalability can position a stablecoin to integrate meaningfully into the global financial system.