Ripple says 'skinny' Fed master account is attractive despite limitations

Core Insights - Ripple supports the concept of a "skinny" Federal Reserve payments account for non-banks, which could alleviate banks' concerns regarding financial stability and competition risks [1][5] - The company has applied for a Fed "master account" to directly access the U.S. central bank's payments infrastructure, avoiding reliance on intermediaries [2] - Fed Governor Christopher Waller indicated that the central bank is considering a "skinny" master account that would limit access to certain services, potentially addressing banks' concerns [3][5] Ripple's Position - A "skinny" account would enable Ripple to efficiently redeem reserves for its dollar-pegged stablecoin RLUSD, enhancing transaction speed and reducing costs compared to using bank intermediaries [4] - The chief legal officer of Ripple believes that this limited access could provide traditional banks with some comfort, as it would not infringe upon their broader business operations [5] Industry Implications - The proposal for a "skinny" master account is still in the prototype stage, and its acceptance by banks remains uncertain [5] - The potential implementation of this account could signify a significant shift in how non-banks interact with the Federal Reserve's payment systems [3][5]