Ripple is moving closer to securing an Australia license through the acquisition of BC Payments Australia, a step that would give the company access to an Australian Financial Services License.
The deal is expected to close on April 1. That would strengthen Ripple Australia AFSL plans as the country moves toward tighter crypto oversight.
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Ripple said BC Payments Australia is tied to the European Banking Circle Group. Through that acquisition, Ripple would gain access to the company’s AFSL, which is expected to become important for some crypto companies offering financial services in the country. Therefore, the Ripple Australia license move comes as regulatory pressure continues to build.
Fiona Murray, Ripple’s APAC managing director, said there was enough institutional demand in the local market to support the investment. She said,
“Getting licensed was always part of our plan.”
She also said Australia is a key market for Ripple. Those remarks place the Ripple Australia AFSL push at the center of the company’s regional expansion.
Ripple Australia AFSL plan centers on BC Payments Australia
Ripple said an AFSL would allow its payments business to manage more of the transaction process in Australia.
According to the company, that includes onboarding, compliance, funding, foreign exchange, liquidity management, and final payout. As a result, the Ripple Australia license would expand the firm’s operating scope in the market.
Murray said,
“Australia is a key market for Ripple.”
She added that, with the AFSL in place, Ripple Payments could manage “the full lifecycle of a transaction, from onboarding and compliance through funding, FX, liquidity management, and final payout, while integrating both traditional banking rails and digital assets.” That explains why BC Payments Australia matters to Ripple’s local strategy.
The planned acquisition also reflects how crypto firms are adjusting to Australia crypto rules. Instead of waiting for full enforcement, Ripple is moving before the deadline pressure increases.
Thus, the Ripple Australia AFSL deal appears tied both to regulation and to local institutional demand.
Ripple Australia license follows broader global licensing push
The Ripple Australia license effort is part of a wider push across several markets. Over the last 12 months, Ripple has secured payment licenses in Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
It also recently received conditional approval for a national trust banking charter in the United States.
At the same time, Ripple has expanded through acquisitions linked to its institutional business. The company has worked to grow use cases for XRP and RLUSD, its stablecoin. Two recent acquisitions stand out: Hidden Road and GTreasury.
Ripple said the Hidden Road acquisition, now tied to Ripple Prime, made it the first crypto native company to own and operate a multi asset prime broker.
The company said that platform covers clearing, financing, and brokerage across digital assets, derivatives, swaps, foreign exchange, and fixed income.
Therefore, the Ripple Australia AFSL move fits into a larger effort to build regulated financial infrastructure.
Australia crypto rules and crypto debanking Australia remain key issues
The Ripple Australia license move comes as lawmakers and regulators continue to shape Australia crypto rules.
The Digital Asset Framework bill was introduced last year. It passed the lower house in February and is now before the Senate.
Meanwhile, the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, or ASIC, has proposed new rules for the crypto sector.
ASIC has also pushed crypto trading platforms to secure AFSLs. However, the regulator said in October that it would not take action over licensing matters until at least June 30, 2026. That timeline gives more context to the Ripple Australia AFSL push.
Murray also said she hopes the licensing shift could help address crypto debanking Australia issues. That issue has affected many users and exchanges. Several major banks have placed restrictions on crypto related deposits.
Australia’s Big Four banks — Commonwealth Bank, Australia and New Zealand Banking, National Australia Bank, and Westpac — have all applied different forms of restrictions.
The same pressure has affected other firms. Coinbase is also seeking an AFSL in the coming months. In addition, Kate Cooper, OKX Australia CEO, said banking barriers still affect adoption. Speaking at the XRP Australia conference on Feb. 27, she said,
“It’s absolutely still a challenge in the industry. I don’t think there’s been any improvements. And we’re working hard with governments to encourage them to set some standards around it.”
Her comments added to the wider debate around crypto debanking Australia and the need for clearer Australia crypto rules.
Tatevik Avetisyan is an editor at Kriptoworld who covers emerging crypto trends, blockchain innovation, and altcoin developments. She is passionate about breaking down complex stories for a global audience and making digital finance more accessible.
📅 Published: March 11, 2026 • 🕓 Last updated: March 11, 2026
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