Metaco

Company overview

Ever try explaining crypto custody to your grandma? It usually ends with her handing you a Werther’s Original and changing the subject to bingo night. But here’s the thing — in the high-stakes world of institutional finance, crypto custody isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the backbone of trust, security, and regulatory compliance. And when Ripple — yes, the same Ripple turbocharging cross-border payments with XRP — dropped 0 million on a Swiss-based firm called Metaco in May 2023, the crypto world took notice. This wasn’t just another acquisition. It was a power move.

Let’s be real: the crypto space has no shortage of wallets, keys, and custody solutions. But institutional investors don’t want to store their digital gold in a glorified USB stick. They need bank-grade security, audit-ready compliance, and seamless integration with enterprise systems. That’s where Metaco enters the chat — not with a meme coin, but with a fortified infrastructure built in the land of Swiss watches and financial precision.

Founded in 2015 in Lausanne, Switzerland, Metaco isn’t your average blockchain startup. While many crypto firms were chasing token pumps, Metaco was quietly developing Harmonize — a digital asset orchestration platform that lets banks, custodians, and corporates manage crypto assets with military-grade security. Think of it as the AWS of digital asset custody — invisible to the consumer, but critical to the entire operation.

Metaco’s credentials read like a fintech dream team’s resume. SOC 2 Type II compliance? Check. ISO/IEC 27001 certification? Double check. Their platform supports tokenization, staking, and smart contract management across multiple blockchains. And yes, XRP is front and center. With Ripple’s acquisition, Metaco’s infrastructure now supercharges Ripple’s institutional custody solutions — bringing secure, compliant storage not just for XRP, but for a wide basket of digital assets.

Why is that important? Because as institutional adoption of digital assets accelerates, the demand for secure, scalable custody solutions is skyrocketing. We’re not talking about a few BTC on a Ledger Nano — we’re talking about hedge funds, central banks, and asset managers moving hundreds of millions in crypto. They need a custody platform that’s as sophisticated as their portfolios. That’s Metaco in a nutshell.

And let’s not forget the Swiss advantage. Switzerland’s regulatory clarity and pro-crypto stance give Metaco a geopolitical edge. In a time when U.S. regulators are still trying to figure out if XRP is a security (spoiler alert: it’s not), having a base of operations in one of the world’s most crypto-forward nations is more than just smart — it’s strategic.

So why did Ripple pull the trigger on a 0 million acquisition? Simple. They saw the future of blockchain finance, and it included a secure, compliant, and scalable way to custody XRP and other digital assets. With Metaco in its arsenal, Ripple isn’t just building the plumbing for global finance — it’s locking down the vaults too.

Understanding Metaco and Its Impact on XRP

Metaco’s integration into Ripple’s ecosystem goes beyond infrastructure — it’s a game-changer for how XRP is positioned in the institutional space. Ripple has long championed XRP as the ultimate bridge asset for cross-border payments. Now, with Metaco’s enterprise-grade custody solutions, Ripple can offer financial institutions a fully integrated solution: transfer value across borders using XRP and securely store those assets all under one trusted umbrella.

This opens the door to large-scale adoption by banks, central banks, and asset managers who previously hesitated due to security and compliance concerns. Metaco’s Harmonize platform supports multi-signature governance, hardware security modules (HSMs), and integration with core banking systems. That means XRP can now be held in the same infrastructure that institutions use for traditional assets — a monumental leap for mainstream adoption.

• Secure institutional custody for XRP and other digital assets
• Compliance with major global standards and regulations
• Integration with Ripple’s payment and liquidity solutions
• Enhanced confidence for banks and financial institutions

In the fast-evolving world of blockchain finance, having a partner like Metaco allows Ripple to offer more than just fast payments — it offers a complete financial stack. For XRP holders and fintech innovators alike, this signals a maturing ecosystem where digital assets can be securely stored, transacted, and audited — all with the Swiss precision of Metaco at the core.

As we continue to chart the course of digital assets in global finance, XRPAuthority.com is your compass. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or a fintech visionary, we break down the signal from the noise. Stay plugged into the future — the XRP-powered, Metaco-secured future — right here with us.

Products and services

Let’s talk about what Metaco actually brings to the table — and spoiler alert, it’s not your average “Web3 wallet with cool gradients.” Metaco’s flagship product, Harmonize, is more than a custody platform. It’s an orchestration engine purpose-built for the high-stakes world of institutional digital asset management. Think of it as the conductor of a finely tuned crypto symphony, coordinating custody, compliance, governance, and blockchain interaction across multiple asset classes — including, of course, XRP.

Harmonize allows financial institutions to securely manage a wide range of digital assets through a single, unified interface. Whether it’s tokenized securities, stablecoins, or native cryptocurrencies like XRP, Harmonize gives institutions full control over wallet management, transaction approval workflows, and policy enforcement. And we’re not talking about a glorified spreadsheet here — this is enterprise-grade, with support for:

• Multi-party computation (MPC) and hardware security modules (HSMs)
• Role-based access control and real-time audit trails
• Integration with SWIFT, core banking systems, and trading platforms
• Cross-chain compatibility for seamless multi-asset custody

What makes this especially relevant for Ripple’s XRP ecosystem is that Harmonize can be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or even as a hybrid setup. That means banks and financial institutions can tailor their custody environment to meet local regulatory requirements, all while maintaining support for RippleNet and XRP Ledger functionality. For example, a central bank experimenting with a CBDC on the XRP Ledger can use Harmonize to custody both the CBDC and XRP in the same secured environment. That’s not just innovation — that’s infrastructure-level transformation.

Metaco also offers advanced tokenization services, enabling institutions to issue, manage, and settle tokenized assets with full lifecycle support. This is a major win for Ripple’s broader vision of tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) on the XRP Ledger. Through Metaco, Ripple partners can now tokenize anything from real estate to carbon credits, all while ensuring those assets are held and governed according to institutional standards.

And let’s not overlook the API-first approach. Metaco’s modular architecture allows seamless integration with trading desks, compliance monitoring tools, and liquidity providers. So whether a hedge fund is executing XRP trades via decentralized exchanges, or a custodian is managing tokenized bonds, Harmonize provides the glue that keeps it all secure, compliant, and operational 24/7 — no downtime, no drama.

In a world where digital asset hacks and regulatory crackdowns dominate headlines, Metaco’s services offer a compelling counter-narrative. It’s not about chasing the next hype cycle. It’s about building the rails, bridges, and guardrails for a blockchain-driven financial future. And now that Metaco is part of Ripple’s arsenal, those rails are running straight through the heart of XRP territory — with institutional-grade security at every turn.

Partnerships and clients

Let’s be honest — in the world of crypto, partnerships can often sound like vague PR fluff. But when it comes to Metaco, the client list reads less like a startup pitch and more like a who’s-who of global finance. We’re talking tier-1 banks, national financial institutions, and leading custodians who don’t just dip their toes into digital assets — they cannonball in. And with Ripple now steering the ship, Metaco’s reach is growing faster than an altcoin in a bull market.

Before the Ripple acquisition, Metaco had already built an impressive roster of institutional partners. These weren’t your average crypto exchanges or DeFi startups — these were traditional financial powerhouses like BBVA Switzerland, UnionBank of the Philippines, and Citibank. Yes, Citibank. These institutions trusted Metaco to deliver enterprise-grade custody infrastructure that aligns with their regulatory and operational requirements. And now that Ripple is plugging XRP and RippleNet into that infrastructure? Let’s just say the synergy is getting spicy.

These partnerships go beyond proof-of-concept. For example, UnionBank of the Philippines uses Metaco to enable crypto custody and trading services for its retail and institutional clients — including support for XRP. That’s not just a tech integration. That’s a major bank offering full-scale crypto services in a region where remittances and cross-border payments are mission-critical — a perfect use case for Ripple’s XRP-powered liquidity solutions.

• BBVA Switzerland: Offers crypto trading and custody, including XRP, directly through its mobile banking app using Metaco’s platform.
• UnionBank of the Philippines: One of the first regulated banks in Asia to provide digital asset custody, powered by Metaco’s Harmonize.
• Citi: Partnered with Metaco in 2022 to develop and pilot digital asset custody capabilities for institutional clients.
• Ripple partners: With Metaco on board, Ripple’s existing institutional relationships can now benefit from seamless custody integration.

And here’s where things get interesting for XRP holders and Ripple investors: every Metaco partnership becomes a potential on-ramp for XRP adoption. With Metaco’s infrastructure now Ripple-owned, banks already using Harmonize are just a few API calls away from integrating XRP custody and transaction capabilities. Whether it’s for liquidity provisioning, cross-border settlements, or tokenized asset management, XRP is strategically positioned to be more than just an option — it’s becoming the default.

Let’s not forget the regulatory confidence factor. When a major bank partners with Metaco, it’s not just about tech — it’s about trust. These institutions undergo rigorous due diligence before choosing a digital asset partner. With Metaco’s SOC 2 compliance, Swiss regulatory roots, and now Ripple’s global compliance muscle, clients can confidently offer digital asset services with XRP baked in, all while ticking every regulatory checkbox.

So what does this mean for the future? It means we’re not just talking about hypothetical use cases anymore. We’re seeing live deployments, real clients, and measurable impact. Metaco’s partnerships aren’t just logos on a slide deck — they are functional, regulated gateways to institutional-grade XRP adoption. And if you’re tracking the evolution of blockchain finance, this is the infrastructure play that could make XRP the backbone of digital value transfer worldwide.

Industry impact and future plans

When Ripple acquired Metaco for a cool 0 million, it wasn’t just acquiring a software company — it was rewriting the playbook for institutional crypto custody. The impact of this move has already begun to ripple (pun fully intended) through the broader fintech industry, and the implications for blockchain finance are seismic. Metaco’s secure and compliant infrastructure is now the lynchpin in Ripple’s strategy to make XRP the institutional-grade digital asset of choice. And let’s be honest — in a space where security breaches and regulatory uncertainty are as common as meme coins, a custody solution with Swiss precision isn’t just nice to have; it’s non-negotiable.

The industry impact is already tangible. With Metaco’s Harmonize platform now fully integrated into Ripple’s suite of institutional offerings, financial institutions can interact with digital assets — including XRP — in ways that were previously off-limits due to compliance or custodial concerns. This opens up a new frontier for blockchain finance where tokenized assets, CBDCs, and XRP can coexist under one institutional roof. This isn’t theoretical anymore — we’re seeing major banks launch pilot programs, explore tokenization strategies, and prepare for a digital-first future, all powered by Metaco’s infrastructure and Ripple’s liquidity solutions.

• Institutions now have a trusted path to adopt XRP with full regulatory compliance
• Ripple’s custody stack is ready for central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and tokenized assets
• Metaco’s infrastructure is enabling full lifecycle management of digital assets — from issuance to settlement
• Global financial players are moving from experimentation to deployment, with XRP at the core

Looking ahead, the roadmap for Ripple and Metaco is nothing short of transformative. Expect to see deeper integration of RippleNet and the XRP Ledger into Harmonize, enabling real-time liquidity provisioning and settlement for tokenized assets. There’s also growing momentum around enabling central banks to issue and manage CBDCs using the very same tech stack — something that could place XRP in a pivotal role as a bridge asset in the digital monetary system. And with tokenization poised to redefine capital markets, Ripple and Metaco are positioning themselves not just to participate — but to lead.

This future isn’t five years away — it’s already unfolding. As regulatory frameworks evolve and institutional demand for digital assets accelerates, the need for secure, compliant, and scalable custody will only intensify. Metaco, now backed by Ripple’s global network and XRP’s liquidity mechanics, is ready to meet that demand head-on. Whether it’s enabling tokenized bond custody in Europe or supporting XRP-backed remittance corridors in Asia, this partnership is building the rails for a new financial paradigm — one that’s faster, cheaper, more transparent, and powered by blockchain.

So if you’re watching the future of finance unfold and wondering where XRP fits in, keep your eyes on Metaco. It’s not just a custodian — it’s the digital vault that’s unlocking the institutional era of blockchain. And here at XRPAuthority.com, we’ll be tracking every milestone, every integration, and every market shift. Join us as we decode the future of XRP, one Swiss-secured block at a time.