BDACS Launches XRP Custody in Korea – Ripple Partnership Signals Major Shift in Institutional Crypto

SEOUL, August 6, 2025

South Korea’s crypto scene reached a new milestone this week as BDACS, a leading regulated crypto custodian, began offering institutional custody for XRP, Ripple’s flagship digital asset. This launch is the first public result of the much-anticipated Ripple–BDACS collaboration, aiming to push regulated adoption of digital assets in one of Asia’s most active crypto markets.

XRP Gets Institutional Green Light in Korea

With regulatory and security compliance at the forefront, BDACS now allows licensed financial institutions across Korea to store, manage, and deploy XRP securely through its platform. Integration with Ripple’s enterprise-grade custody tech offers banks, funds, and asset managers seamless access to XRP which was previously restricted by custodial uncertainties and regulatory hurdles.

This launch also links BDACS directly with major Korean exchanges including Upbit, Coinone, and Korbit streamlining transfers, settlements, and custody for professional clients in accordance with Korea’s strict financial regulations.

Why This XRP Move Is a Game-Changer

XRP is a top-traded digital asset in Korea, often rivaling or even outpacing Bitcoin and Ethereum in local trading volumes. Until now, institutions wanting to hold XRP faced fragmented or offshore solutions, which complicated compliance and slowed wider adoption. BDACS’s regulated custody partnership with Ripple means Korean financial players can finally access and manage XRP within a transparent, government-approved framework.

This change comes as demand for digital assets among Korean adults remains high, with over a quarter of working-age people holding some form of crypto. By enabling secure, regulated XRP custody, BDACS lowers barriers to adoption and paves the way for financial innovations such as tokenized assets, stablecoins, and next-generation payment tools.

Ripple’s Broader Asian Strategy

BDACS is not alone in partnering with Ripple for Asian expansion. Recent months have seen initiatives like Japan’s SBI Holdings filing for a Bitcoin–XRP ETF, as well as Ripple-backed investments into blockchain education and infrastructure across the region. These moves signal an effort to integrate Ripple’s tech more deeply into Asian capital markets at both retail and institutional levels.

With BDACS now supporting both XRP and Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin, Korean banks and asset managers have new opportunities to integrate blockchain-based features into their services—ranging from wealth management and cross-border payments to asset tokenization.

Industry Response and What’s Next

The institutional crypto sector has praised the BDACS move, viewing it as a sign that South Korea is ready for the next era of regulated digital finance. As legacy financial giants like Kakao Bank and Kookmin Bank eye crypto integration and new digital asset frameworks, BDACS’s custodial breakthrough could spark further institutional crypto services, ETF launches, and capital inflows.

In summary, BDACS’s live support for XRP, delivered through its alliance with Ripple, is a turning point for Korea’s digital asset market. By solving longstanding custody and compliance concerns, this launch positions Korea as a leader in institutional crypto innovation and confirms XRP’s relevance in the global digital economy.