Following the UK, another victory! Ripple receives preliminary approval from Luxembourg, preparing for compliant entry into Europe

Ripple receives a green light letter from Luxembourg’s CSSF for EMI application, connecting with the MiCA framework to expand into the EU market, strengthening its compliant payment landscape, and $XRP surges accordingly.

Regulatory landscape expands again as Luxembourg’s CSSF issues a “Green Light Letter”

At the start of 2026, the US-based blockchain company Ripple demonstrated its strong regulatory push in the European market. According to the latest official announcement, Ripple has obtained a preliminary approval letter (Green Light Letter) from Luxembourg’s financial regulator: the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).

Image source: X/@Ripple Ripple has received a preliminary approval letter from Luxembourg’s CSSF

This so-called “Green Light Letter” marks a critical step forward for Ripple in its application for an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license, indicating it has preliminarily met the regulatory compliance requirements. This development comes just days after Ripple received authorization from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), symbolizing two major European regulatory milestones achieved within a week.

Further reading
Expanding UK crypto payments! Ripple approved by the UK FCA, becoming a compliant electronic money institution

Once Ripple successfully obtains full EMI authorization, this license will grant it the right to provide regulated payment services in Luxembourg and, through the EU’s “passporting” system, extend its business scope across the European Economic Area (EEA). This means Ripple can offer payment solutions involving stablecoins and digital assets across the EU without needing to apply for separate licenses in each country.

For a technology service provider long committed to improving cross-border payment efficiency, this is undoubtedly a key to unlocking the European market’s vital arteries, also reflecting Luxembourg’s success as a leading global financial center in adopting proactive and meticulous digital asset regulations.

Targeting MiCA advantages to build a compliant EU operational foundation

Ripple’s choice of Luxembourg as its EU entry point is clearly a strategic and well-considered move. Luxembourg is actively positioning itself as a key hub aligned with the standards of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

Ripple President Monica Long stated that the EU, as the first major jurisdiction to introduce a comprehensive digital asset regulatory framework, provides legal certainty for financial institutions to scale blockchain technology from pilot projects to commercial operations. For Ripple, which has been troubled by regulatory uncertainty in the US, Europe’s clear framework is undoubtedly a catalyst for real-world adoption of its technology.

Image source: Delano Ripple President Monica Long

In the coming months, Ripple’s core goal will be to obtain full Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) licensing under the MiCA framework. Through close cooperation with CSSF, Ripple aims to evolve its payment solutions from simple fund transfers to a comprehensive system integrating stablecoins and deep on-chain liquidity.

Ripple UK and Europe Managing Director Cassie Craddock said that regulatory transparency is the foundation for institutional adoption. By prioritizing operations that comply with MiCA standards, Ripple is helping regional businesses embrace the next wave of financial innovation. This is not only about compliance but also about unlocking trillions of dollars of idle capital trapped in traditional financial systems, enabling seamless value flow.

A global license portfolio and the foundation of $95 billion in transaction volume

With licenses from Luxembourg and the UK secured, Ripple now holds over 75 licenses and registrations worldwide. This makes it one of the most heavily regulated cryptocurrency companies globally.

According to official data, Ripple’s payment platform covers 90% of the daily foreign exchange market, with a total processed transaction volume exceeding $95 billion. Its global operational network is extensive, holding money transfer licenses in 43 US states and obtaining key regulatory approvals in Singapore, Dubai, and the Cayman Islands.

Specifically, Ripple previously received approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to expand its payment services, and entered the Middle Eastern financial hub under a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

Additionally, Ripple has strengthened its compliance infrastructure and technological reserves through acquisitions of platforms like Layer2 Financial and Hidden Road in recent years. The Ripple Payments platform’s core advantage is that it handles the underlying blockchain operations and complexities for banks and payment providers, offering 24/7 real-time cross-border transfer services, allowing enterprises to launch digital payment solutions without managing complex infrastructure. This “infrastructureization” of blockchain technology is key to building trust with regulators at all levels worldwide.

Market response and token rally: the future blueprint of institutional-grade infrastructure

Amid positive regulatory news, the asset closely associated with Ripple’s ecosystem, XRP, has shown strong momentum. Reports indicate that following Luxembourg’s preliminary approval news, $XRP ’s price once surged over 3%, reaching around $2.17. As of the time of writing, $XRP is trading at $2.12.

Image source: CoinGecko XRP price once surged over 3%, reaching $2.17. Current price is $2.12.

Despite ongoing market volatility, investors are clearly optimistic about Ripple’s ability to expand its business within a highly compliant framework. Meanwhile, other major players in the crypto market such as Coinbase and Germany’s DZ Bank are also moving toward similar compliance strategies, indicating an irreversible trend of digital assets aligning with mainstream finance.

Looking ahead, Ripple will continue to deepen its presence in key European offices in London, Dublin, Luxembourg, and Reykjavik, leveraging its 15 global offices to solidify its leadership in the regulated payments industry.

Monica Long emphasized that by managing point-to-point value flows, Ripple is building a bridge between traditional finance and the digital future.

Although currently only at the preliminary approval stage, the signals are very clear: in a tightening global regulatory environment, only companies that prioritize regulatory compliance over restrictions will be able to carve out a position in the future digital financial landscape worth trillions of dollars.