Ripple’s Been ‘Building For This Moment For Years,’ Executive Says

by | Mar 10, 2026 | General

Ripple’s senior executive Recce Merrick says the company has spent years preparing for the surge in stablecoin usage as blockchain-based payments accelerate worldwide.

Ripple’s RLUSD Is The Answer

In a Mar. 10 post on X, Merrick said the company’s response is Ripple USD (CRYPTO: RLUSD), a dollar-backed stablecoin designed as an enterprise-grade product for institutional users entering the market.

Stablecoins processed about $33 trillion in transactions in 2025, roughly double the annual volume handled by Visa, highlighting the growing role of blockchain-based payments.

According to Merrick, stablecoin transaction volume increased 72% year over year in 2025, while active users surged 146% across 106 countries.

The total stablecoin market capitalization has also reached roughly $320 billion.

Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, said after a recent global trip that the company sees 2026 as a pivotal year as it integrates artificial intelligence into products and expands across payments, custody, liquidity and treasury services, with XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) playing a central role.

Adoption Accelerates In High-Volatility Regions

Merrick said stablecoin usage is particularly strong in regions experiencing currency volatility or large remittance flows.

  • In Turkey, demand for dollar-denominated assets has helped make the country the largest digital asset market in the MENA region.
  • Across Africa, stablecoins are increasingly used for remittances. Nigeria alone accounts for about $59 billion in annual remittance flows, creating strong demand for faster digital payments.
  • Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has introduced a dirham-backed stablecoin known as DDSC, approved for institutional settlements and targeting a $170 billion global market.

Companies are increasingly using stablecoins for remittances, payroll automation and treasury management, while some CFOs are beginning to move idle corporate cash into digital dollars.

In many emerging markets, stablecoins are also serving as a hedge against inflation, further accelerating global adoption.

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