Ripple has taken another step toward expanding its regulated payments footprint in Europe after receiving preliminary approval from Luxembourg’s financial watchdog to operate as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI).
The authorization, granted by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), signals regulatory acceptance of Ripple’s business model as the company prepares to offer stablecoin and digital-asset-based payment services across the European Union.
While this is a preliminary approval, it provides a pathway for Ripple to begin scaling its operations under Europe’s evolving digital finance framework. It also puts the company on track to secure a full EMI licence upon meeting certain conditions.
Instead of relying on limited pilot programs, Ripple’s strategy centres on integrating blockchain-based payments directly into existing financial infrastructure. Luxembourg’s approval strengthens this approach by placing Ripple within one of Europe’s most established regulatory jurisdictions for cross-border finance.
From Regulatory Green Light to Commercial Payments
Ripple President Monica Long said Europe’s regulatory clarity is creating an environment where blockchain-based payments can move beyond experimentation. According to her, regulatory certainty is what allows financial institutions to deploy blockchain technology at a commercial scale.
“The EU was the first major jurisdiction to introduce comprehensive digital assets regulation, and this provides the certainty financial institutions need to move blockchain from pilots to commercial scale,” Long said in a Wednesday press release.
She added that Ripple’s ambition extends beyond faster transactions, noting that the firm is focused on managing the entire flow of value by combining stablecoins, onchain liquidity, and compliance within a single payments framework.
“By extending Ripple’s licensing portfolio and evolving our payments solution into a comprehensive suite that integrates stablecoins with deep, onchain liquidity, we are doing more than just moving money. We are managing the end-to-end flow of value to unlock trillions in dormant capital and bridging legacy finance with the digital future,” she added.
The Luxembourg development builds on Ripple’s recent authorization in the United Kingdom, where the company secured both an EMI license and crypto asset registration from the Financial Conduct Authority.
Together, the UK and Luxembourg approvals position Ripple to expand across Europe as the EU advances implementation of its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regime.Notably, Ripple’s payments platform enables businesses to move funds internationally without managing blockchain infrastructure themselves.
The company handles settlement, liquidity, and compliance while connecting clients to a global network of payout partners, lowering the technical and regulatory barriers for banks and payment providers entering digital asset markets.
Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s Managing Director for the UK and Europe, described Luxembourg’s regulatory approach as a catalyst for responsible financial innovation. She said the preliminary approval is a key step toward delivering MiCA-compliant digital asset infrastructure across the continent.
“Thanks to the CSSF’s progressive and sophisticated approach to supervision, Luxembourg is establishing itself as a premier hub for financial innovation by providing the harmonised framework and legal certainty that our industry needs,” said Craddock.
Gaining our preliminary approval is a pivotal step, enabling Ripple to provide essential blockchain infrastructure to clients across the EU. By prioritizing compliant operations, Ripple is empowering the region’s businesses to lean into the next era of financial innovation,” she added.
Per the announcement, Ripple’s payments network has processed more than $95 billion in transaction volume globally and now operates under over 75 licenses and registrations across major financial jurisdictions. With regulatory approvals stacking up in Europe’s largest financial centres, Ripple is positioning itself to turn digital asset payments into a mainstream component of cross-border finance.
Meanwhile, this development comes shortly after Ripple launched over-the-counter (OTC) spot trading services for institutional clients in the U.S. In November 2025, the San Francisco-based firm secured $500 million in a strategic funding round, hitting a $40 billion valuation.
