Ripple, the global blockchain and digital payment company, has announced a strategic partnership with Jeel, the innovation arm of Riyad Bank in Saudi Arabia. Reece Merrick @reece_merrick · Follow More big news from the Middle East! @Ripple is partnering with @Jeelmovement , the innovation arm of @RiyadBank , to advance Saudi Arabia’s financial future through blockchain innovation 🇸🇦The Kingdom’s visionary leadership has established Saudi Arabia as a forward-thinking 12:23 pm · 26 Jan 2026 840 Reply Copy link Read 45 replies The collaboration aims to explore blockchain technology to enhance the Kingdom’s financial infrastructure. While the news has done little to change the bearish XRP market sentiment , it has added some positive impetus to the overlay bearish market. Exploring blockchain use cases in Saudi Arabia Through this partnership, Ripple and Jeel will focus on practical blockchain applications. One of the primary objectives is to improve cross-border payment processes. Blockchain technology has the potential to make these transactions faster, more transparent, and cost-efficient. In addition, the collaboration will explore solutions for digital asset custody. This involves developing secure and compliant ways to manage digital assets. Another key area of focus is tokenisation, which allows the digitisation of financial assets. By tokenising assets, financial services can become more efficient and accessible. These initiatives will be tested in Jeel’s regulatory sandbox, ensuring compliance with Saudi financial regulations. The sandbox environment allows innovative solutions to be trialled in a controlled and supervised setting. This ensures that new blockchain applications meet local regulatory standards while promoting financial innovation. Alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 The partnership is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda . Vision 2030 aims to diversify the economy and modernise the financial sector. By embracing blockchain technology, the Kingdom can strengthen its financial infrastructure. Ripple’s collaboration with Jeel is part of a broader effort to position Saudi Arabia as a forward-thinking financial hub. Reece Merrick, Ripple’s executive, emphasised that the partnership will help shape the future of the Kingdom’s financial ecosystem. He highlighted the importance of exploring cross-border payments, digital asset custody, and tokenisation to support the Vision 2030 goals. The initiative also reflects the leadership’s commitment to digital transformation. Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in innovation and fintech to attract global talent and investment. By partnering with Jeel, Ripple gains direct access to the Kingdom’s innovation platforms. This allows Ripple to test new solutions while benefiting from local expertise and regulatory guidance. The collaboration also strengthens Ripple’s presence in the Middle East. The region has increasingly embraced blockchain technology for financial services. By combining Ripple’s global blockchain experience with Jeel’s local innovation capabilities, the partnership has strong potential to deliver tangible results. Saudi Arabia is now positioned to lead in the adoption of blockchain-based financial solutions. The partnership sets a precedent for collaboration between international fintech firms and local financial institutions. It demonstrates how blockchain innovation can support economic growth and modernisation. As Ripple and Jeel move forward, the Kingdom could see faster, more secure, and more efficient financial services. The post Ripple partners with Riyad Bank’s Jeel to explore blockchain in Saudi Arabia appeared first on Invezz
