Ripple USD

Ripple USD (RLUSD) is a fiat-backed dollar stablecoin issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company, a wholly owned Ripple subsidiary, with each token backed by at least an equivalent amount of US dollars and other cash equivalents. It is engineered for cross-border payments, issued natively on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum, and marketed around trust, liquidity and regulatory compliance as its central selling points rather than yield or novelty.

How the RLUSD peg and reserves work

The peg mechanism is the conventional and well-understood one: reserves of cash and cash-equivalent assets held one-for-one against tokens in circulation, with issuance and redemption by the regulated issuer keeping the market price anchored near a dollar. RLUSD earns no yield for holders; the reserve income accrues to the issuer. Its purpose is to be a reliable, redeemable digital dollar for institutional payment flows, not an income instrument.

Ripple's enterprise distribution advantage

Ripple's positioning leans on distribution. A decade of enterprise relationships, a portfolio of global licenses and existing cross-border payment infrastructure are the assets it brings to a market dominated by larger incumbents. RLUSD competes not primarily on technology but on regulatory posture and Ripple's institutional reach, aiming to be the compliant dollar of choice for financial institutions and enterprises exploring blockchain settlement.

The bull and bear case for RLUSD

The bull case is a credibly-regulated stablecoin from an issuer with genuine enterprise channels, arriving as clearer stablecoin rules take shape and demand for compliant digital dollars grows. The bear case is stablecoin-specific: peg stability rests on the quality, auditing and bankruptcy-remoteness of reserves; the token faces enormous incumbency from established stablecoins; and Ripple's own regulatory history means legal and jurisdictional scrutiny follows it. Redemption access and reserve transparency are the metrics that matter most.

Who RLUSD suits

RLUSD suits institutions, payment providers and users who want a compliance-oriented dollar for settlement and liquidity rather than speculation. Confirm current reserve attestations and redemption terms directly, and treat this as information, not financial advice.

1. 1. Choose an exchange. Pick a reputable exchange that lists RLUSD — among the venues we rate highest are Binance, OKX and Kraken.
2. 2. Create & verify your account. Register, enable two-factor authentication, and complete identity verification (KYC).
3. 3. Deposit funds. Add money by bank transfer, card, or a stablecoin, depending on what the exchange supports in your region.
4. 4. Buy RLUSD. Search for RLUSD, choose a market or limit order, enter your amount, and confirm.
5. 5. Secure your coins. For long-term holdings, withdraw RLUSD to a self-custody wallet you control rather than leaving it on the exchange.

Compare venues in our independent exchange ratings. This is not financial advice.