Ripple acquires UK approvals to expand payments business

Group 1 - Ripple has secured an Electronic Money Institution license and Cryptoasset Registration from the UK's Financial Conduct Authority, allowing it to expand its licensed payments platform in the UK [1][2] - The company aims to unlock trillions in dormant capital and facilitate instantaneous value movement through its expanded payments solution [2] - The UK is in the process of revamping its crypto regulations, with a new regulatory regime proposed to treat crypto similarly to traditional asset classes [3][4] Group 2 - The UK finance minister and US Treasury Secretary have established the Transatlantic Taskforce for Markets of the Future to enhance collaboration on capital markets and digital assets [5] - Ripple had a significant year in 2025, announcing a $500 million strategic investment that valued the company at $40 billion and spending over $2.4 billion on acquisitions [5] - CEO Brad Garlinghouse indicated that Ripple would likely slow its acquisition activities in 2026 [6]