Ripple to acquire BC payments to accelerate growth in the APAC region

Ripple has announced plans to acquire BC Payments, Australia's European-based payments and fintech infrastructure provider Bank Circle, which is planning to obtain an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL).

The move is part of Ripple's strategy to expand its operations across Asia Pacific.

BC Payments, launched in 2023, provides fintechs and banks with solutions for cross-border payments and global growth. The service targets the challenges faced by high-growth domestic firms, including limited clearing, settlement and international payment channels.

Fiona Murray, regional director for Asia Pacific at Ripple, said AFSL will enable the organization to grow its payments platform in Australia by enabling financial institutions and enterprises to move across borders quickly, transparently and efficiently.

“Licensing is fundamental to Ripple's strategy, which is to be able to deliver reliable and compliant solutions to customers around the world,” Murray said. “Australia is a key market for Ripple, and AFSL will strengthen our ability to scale Ripple Payments in the region.”

With its license, Ripple Payments can integrate traditional banking channels with digital assets to streamline cross-border payments and manage end-to-end transaction processing, compliance, FX, liquidity management and final settlement.

The proposed acquisition, subject to formal completion procedures, comes as Ripple sees strong regional growth. In the year By 2025, Ripple's APAC fees could nearly double year over year.

With more than 75 international licenses, the company is one of the most regulated digital asset companies, expanding modern payment and treasury infrastructure for institutions transitioning from legacy systems.