Ripple acquires crypto custody firm Metaco in $250M deal

Ripple has announced the acquisition of Metaco – making it the sole shareholder of the Swiss-based crypto custody firm.

The $250 million deal will expand Ripple’s enterprise offerings for digital asset custody, issuance, and settlement services.

Metaco was founded in 2015 and already has a client base of banks, crypto exchanges, and fintech firms. Its in-house Harmonize platform provides client integration to access services, including staking and smart contract management, on top of its core asset custody business.

Ripple X Metaco

According to Ripple, the crypto custody market is predicted to hit $10 trillion by 2030 – driven by an expected surge in demand for enterprise-grade digital asset infrastructure.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said both firms already share common goals in developing enterprise utility, adherence to regulatory compliance, and a global mindset. With that, he is confident that the pairing can deliver “the best possible experience” for corporate clients.

Signing off the thread, Garlinghouse alluded to the imminent end of crypto winter, adding that Ripple is now well-placed to achieve its long-term vision.

“Every day we’re thinking about the long-term opportunity of crypto utility, putting our money/minds behind that mission, and partnering with folks who share that vision.“

Metaco founder and CEO Adrien Treccani said the deal would allow the company to leverage Ripple’s “scale and market strength,” – enabling it to serve its clients better.

“We look forward to continuing to serve unprecedented levels of institutional demand with the utmost excellence in delivery, as our clients have come to expect.”

Treccani will remain the company head, with Metaco continuing to function as a standalone brand.

XRP leads the top 10

In a further boost to Ripple, the SEC lawsuit judge denied the plaintiff’s motion to seal internal documents related to former Director William Hinman.

A critical part of Ripple’s defense strategy centers on Hinman greenlighting Bitcoin and Ethereum as non-securities and the assumption that XRP holds the same status due to the lack of regulatory notice to the contrary.

As the news filtered out, XRP moved higher late Tuesday evening (BST) – posting peak gains at $0.4616, or 8.5%. Bears have since dipped the price, with $0.4416 providing support.

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