BlackRock, Mastercard, and Franklin Templeton Explore XRP Ledger Capabilities

Odelia Torteman, XRPL Commons’ Director of Corporate Adoption, has revealed that BlackRock, Mastercard, and Franklin Templeton are exploring the capabilities of the XRP Ledger.

-

This came in an interview during the Digital Assets Forum event earlier this year in London, as Torteman discussed the growing involvement of institutions and what it could mean for the broader XRP ecosystem.

• BlackRock, Mastercard, and Franklin Templeton are exploring XRP Ledger, says Ripple’s Odelia Torteman.
• XRPL is for institutions, enabling payments, settlements and cross-asset transfers via XRP bridge asset.
• Firms like BlackRock and Ripple partners are testing tokenization, AMM, DEX, and stablecoin liquidity on XRPL.
• Mastercard, Gemini, and Ripple previously tested RLUSD for XRPL card payments, showing regulated stablecoin settlement use.

Torteman described XRPL as a decentralized system where XRP plays a core role in enabling transactions and settlements. Acting as a bridge asset, XRP facilitates the transfer of value across different assets on the network.

She pointed out that the ledger already supports a range of financial applications, from payments to enterprise-grade solutions. Within this framework, supporters view holding XRP as exposure to the infrastructure that powers transparent and efficient cross-asset transfers.

During the interview, the host noted that companies such as Mastercard, Visa, Franklin Templeton, and BlackRock have appeared at XRPL events. This raises questions about their level of involvement.

Remarkably, Torteman confirmed that interest is real and growing. She emphasized that XRPL was designed from inception with financial institutions in mind for cross-border and multi-asset transactions.

She also noted that XRPL includes features such as an automated market maker (AMM), a built-in decentralized exchange (DEX), trust lines, and tools for compliance and KYC. These features make it easier for institutions to use blockchain technology while meeting regulatory requirements.

Meanwhile, recent collaborations show how major firms are already engaging with Ripple’s technology.

Last September, Ripple, Franklin Templeton, and DBS Bank jointly introduced tokenized lending and trading solutions using tokenized money market funds and RLUSD. The idea is that combining regulated stablecoins with tokenized assets can improve liquidity and capital efficiency, while also building trust.

Around the same time, Ripple partnered with Securitize to allow investors in BlackRock’s BUIDL fund and VanEck’s VBILL fund to convert their holdings into RLUSD. This enables continuous (24/7) liquidity through smart contracts for tokenized Treasury products.

Meanwhile, in November, Mastercard teamed up with Gemini and Ripple to test RLUSD for settling card payments on XRPL. The goal was to demonstrate how regulated stablecoins can help banks process payments faster and more transparently on a public blockchain.

The increasing presence of major financial institutions on XRPL suggests a shift in how XRP is viewed. It is no longer seen only as a trading asset, but also as a bridge asset within a blockchain designed for large-scale financial activity.