Absa Launches Digital Asset Custody With Ripple

According to BlockchainReporter, Absa Corporate and Investment Banking launched Absa Digital Asset Custody on Monday as a live institutional platform for safeguarding digital assets built on Ripple’s technology. Absa CIB announced the rollout on X, describing it as a digital first for Africa built to institutional standards. This follows an initial partnership announced in October 2025.

The platform provides institutional clients with a regulated environment for safekeeping digital assets, private key control, approval controls, and audit trails. Reece Merrick, Ripple's managing director for the Middle East and Africa, stated the launch allows Absa to set a benchmark for secure and compliant digital asset management on the continent. Absa has not yet disclosed specific assets, fees, or initial clients.

Robyn Lawson, Absa's head of digital product for custody, previously noted that the bank selected Ripple's technology for meeting high security and operational standards. For Ripple, the launch expands its African footprint alongside existing payments technology and stablecoin rollouts, supporting institutional digital-asset adoption across the region.