Ripple Teams Up with Ctrl Alt to Boost Middle East Presence

Ripple has teamed up with Ctrl Alt to bring cutting-edge digital asset storage to Dubai’s booming real estate sector, marking a pivotal moment in its Middle East expansion. Announced on July 16, 2025, this collaboration powers the Dubai Land Department’s (DLD) groundbreaking Real Estate Tokenization Project. By leveraging Ripple’s advanced custody technology, Ctrl Alt will securely store tokenized property title deeds on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), making Dubai the first Middle Eastern government to harness a public blockchain for such a transformative initiative. Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, called it a “game-changer” for Dubai’s leadership in the digital asset arena.

Ctrl Alt, newly licensed as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), will ensure compliant token issuance and custody for real-world assets. CEO Matt Ong highlighted that the partnership allows Ctrl Alt to tap into Ripple’s reliable technology to democratize Dubai’s real estate market through fractional ownership and tokenization, opening investment opportunities to a global audience at entry points as low as AED 2,000 ($545).

Impact on XRP: Boosting Utility and Adoption

This collaboration could significantly elevate XRP’s role in the global financial ecosystem. By integrating the XRP Ledger into Dubai’s high-profile real estate tokenization project, XRP gains a powerful use case that showcases its speed, low-cost transactions, and decentralized infrastructure. The project’s success could drive demand for XRP as a bridge currency for on-chain settlements, potentially increasing its market value and trading volume, which recently hit $8.94 billion in 24 hours. Moreover, the XRP Ledger’s selection for a government-backed initiative enhances its credibility, likely attracting more institutional adoption and reinforcing XRP’s position as a cornerstone for real-world asset tokenization. Analysts suggest this could push XRP toward its $2.25 price target, building on its current trading level of $2.93.

Ripple’s Competitors in Digital Asset Custody

Ripple faces stiff competition in the digital asset custody space from established players like Coinbase Custody, Gemini Custody, and Fireblocks, which offer robust solutions for institutional clients. Coinbase Custody provides secure storage with insurance coverage, while Gemini emphasizes regulatory compliance and offline storage. Fireblocks stands out with its multi-party computation technology for secure asset transfers. Additionally, Ripple’s 2023 acquisition of Metaco has positioned it to compete with firms like Anchorage Digital, which focuses on institutional-grade custody and DeFi integration. These competitors are vying to capture the growing $140 trillion tokenized bond and $300 trillion real estate markets, where Ripple’s XRPL aims to carve a niche with its low-cost, high-speed infrastructure.

Also Read: Ripple Launches RLUSD Stablecoin in EU with Luxembourg as Key Hub

Other Blockchain Ecosystems Making Waves in Real Estate Tokenization

Dubai’s initiative isn’t the only blockchain-driven real estate revolution. Ethereum has seen significant activity, with platforms like RealT tokenizing U.S. properties for fractional ownership, enabling investors to buy stakes with ETH. In 2024, Polygon partnered with Franklin Templeton to tokenize a $400 million real estate fund, leveraging its layer-2 scalability. Meanwhile, Stellar, a Ripple competitor, collaborated with a Singapore-based firm to tokenize commercial properties, focusing on cross-border accessibility. These efforts highlight a global race to modernize real estate through blockchain, with Ripple’s XRPL standing out for its regulatory compliance and institutional focus in Dubai’s project.

Ripple’s Growing Footprint in the UAE and Beyond

This partnership marks Ripple’s first major custody integration in the UAE, building on its global network spanning Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East. Ripple’s influence in the region is bolstered by its Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) license, strategic partnerships with Zand Bank and Mamo, and the recent approval of its RLUSD stablecoin for use in Dubai’s financial hub. With over 60 regulatory licenses worldwide, Ripple continues to solidify its reputation as a trusted provider of secure, compliant digital asset solutions for institutions. The launch of RLUSD in the EU, with Luxembourg as a key hub, further underscores Ripple’s global ambitions.

This collaboration not only transforms Dubai’s real estate market but also positions Ripple and XRP as trailblazers in the tokenized economy, setting the stage for a future where blockchain redefines global finance.