Metaco

Company background

Ever wonder what happens when a crypto giant with global ambitions meets a Swiss vault-level security firm? You get a 0 million power move—and a new chapter for Ripple and XRP. That’s exactly what went down in May 2023, when Ripple acquired Metaco, a Switzerland-based crypto custody firm known for its institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure. This wasn’t just a headline-grabbing deal—it was a long-game strategy play that could reshape how XRP is stored, secured, and scaled in institutional finance.

Now, let’s talk Switzerland. It’s not just about cheese, watches, and secret bank accounts anymore. It’s also home to some of the most forward-thinking crypto custody solutions in the world. Metaco, headquartered in Lausanne, has built a reputation for delivering enterprise-grade digital asset custody and orchestration technology to banks, asset managers, and other financial powerhouses. This is no fly-by-night startup; Metaco has been quietly building the rails for institutional crypto adoption since 2015.

So why did Ripple, the company behind one of the most battle-tested blockchains in global finance, decide to drop a quarter-billion dollars on this Swiss gem? Simple. Infrastructure. In a world where custody is king, Ripple needed a secure, scalable, and regulation-compliant way to offer digital asset management to institutions. And Metaco fits that role like a Ledger Nano fits in your pocket.

Ripple has long been laser-focused on building real-world utility for XRP—whether it’s cross-border payments, liquidity provisioning, or tokenization. But as more banks and large financial institutions dip their toes into the digital asset pool, secure custody becomes non-negotiable. Institutions won’t even look at you unless you can guarantee ironclad security, full regulatory compliance, and seamless integration with their existing systems. That’s Metaco’s wheelhouse.

And let’s not forget the broader implications for XRP. With Metaco now under Ripple’s wing, XRP holders can expect enhanced custody options, tighter security, and more institutional-grade products built directly into the Ripple ecosystem. This isn’t just a backend upgrade—it’s a foundational shift that fortifies Ripple’s position in the blockchain finance landscape.

Metaco also brings with it a deep bench of talent, including engineers, cryptographers, and compliance experts who’ve worked with some of the biggest names in traditional finance. Their experience working with Tier 1 banks and regulated entities gives Ripple a serious leg up as it continues to push XRP into mainstream financial rails. It’s like hiring the Avengers, if they specialized in key management and token custody.

And because we’re all about the numbers in crypto: the 0 million acquisition wasn’t just a flex—it was a calculated investment into the future of digital asset custody. Given the growing importance of secure infrastructure in the trading and custody of XRP and other cryptocurrencies, this move positions Ripple to dominate the next wave of institutional adoption.

Understanding Metaco and Its Impact on XRP

Metaco isn’t just a fancy name on Ripple’s cap table—it’s a critical piece of the puzzle for institutional blockchain adoption. At its core, Metaco offers a platform called Harmonize, which allows financial institutions to securely manage digital assets across multiple blockchains. Think of it as a digital asset control tower, giving banks the tools to orchestrate custody, trading, and compliance without sacrificing security or flexibility.

For XRP, this means more than just secure storage. It means integration into a system where XRP can be used, moved, and managed alongside other digital and tokenized assets with confidence. It also means that banks considering XRP for payments or liquidity solutions won’t have to build custody infrastructure from scratch—they can simply plug into Metaco’s ecosystem. That’s a game-changer for adoption.

• Security-first architecture: Metaco’s platform is built with military-grade security protocols, including hardware security modules (HSMs) and multi-party computation (MPC) technology.
• Institutional trust: Already trusted by global banks and regulated institutions, Metaco brings credibility and compliance muscle to Ripple’s offerings.
• Interoperability: Supports multiple blockchains, making XRP more accessible in diversified portfolios and multi-asset strategies.

In short, this isn’t just about XRP storage—it’s about unlocking XRP’s potential in a regulated, scalable, and interoperable way. By embedding Metaco’s infrastructure into Ripple’s ecosystem, XRP is poised to move even deeper into the heart of fintech, trading, and global finance.

Looking for more smart takes on XRP, Ripple, and the evolving world of blockchain finance? You’re already in the right place. At XRPAuthority.com, we cut through the noise, break down the tech, and deliver insights that help you stay ahead of the curve. Whether you’re a day trader, a long-term HODLer, or just XRP-curious, we’ve got your back—because the future of finance doesn’t wait, and neither should you.

Core products and services

Let’s be honest—crypto custody isn’t exactly cocktail party conversation. But if you’re managing billions in digital assets, it should be. That’s where Metaco’s core products come in. At the heart of Metaco’s offering is its flagship platform, Harmonize, an institutional-grade orchestration layer that doesn’t just store crypto—it empowers financial institutions to manage, trade, and govern digital assets with precision and compliance. Harmonize is like Mission Control for crypto assets, and now, with Ripple behind it, XRP is front and center on the dashboard.

Harmonize isn’t your average hot wallet with a shiny UI. This platform is API-driven, modular, and built for integration with traditional core banking systems. That means banks don’t have to reinvent the wheel to offer digital asset services—they simply integrate Harmonize into their existing infrastructure. For XRP, this unlocks incredible potential. Financial institutions can now offer XRP custody, settlement, and tokenization services without worrying about reinventing their tech stack or compromising security.

• Digital asset custody: Secure management of private keys using advanced cryptographic techniques like MPC and HSMs.
• Governance engine: Enforces role-based access, transaction approvals, and compliance workflows for institutional oversight.
• Smart contract orchestration: Enables automated workflows for token issuance, DeFi participation, and staking—yes, staking XRP in the future could be on the roadmap.
• Multi-asset support: From Bitcoin to stablecoins to tokenized securities, and now XRP, the platform supports a wide range of digital assets.

But wait, there’s more—Metaco also offers deployment flexibility that reads like a dream for CIOs. Whether it’s on-premises, in the cloud, or through hybrid environments, institutions get to choose how they manage their custody setup. This is crucial for regulatory compliance and sovereignty, especially in jurisdictions where financial data must remain within borders. And guess what? XRP benefits from this flexibility by becoming a viable asset within highly regulated environments.

Another standout service is tokenization orchestration. As the token economy expands beyond cryptocurrencies into real-world assets—think tokenized real estate, carbon credits, and even fine art—Metaco’s platform is built to handle it all. With Ripple’s growing focus on tokenizing everything from CBDCs to carbon markets, Metaco becomes the linchpin that allows XRP to function not just as a currency, but as a bridge asset in these emerging tokenized ecosystems.

And let’s not ignore the elephant in the blockchain room: compliance. Harmonize comes with built-in compliance tools like transaction monitoring, AML screening, and audit trails. This makes it exponentially easier for institutions to adopt XRP while staying on the right side of regulators. In an industry where one compliance misstep can tank your reputation—or worse—this is the kind of infrastructure that builds confidence and longevity.

So, when Ripple brought Metaco into the fold, it didn’t just buy a custody solution—it acquired a full-stack platform that transforms how institutions interact with digital assets. By embedding XRP into Metaco’s core product suite, Ripple has effectively supercharged its ability to offer secure, compliant, and scalable blockchain finance solutions to the world’s largest financial players. The future of trading, custody, and settlement just got a serious upgrade—and XRP is driving the charge.

Partnerships and integrations

When it comes to fintech, partnerships aren’t just polite handshakes and press releases—they’re strategic alliances that can make or break adoption. And Metaco? Let’s just say they’ve been busy speed-dating the who’s who of global finance. Long before Ripple swooped in with its 0 million acquisition, Metaco had already built a robust network of integrations with some of the biggest names in banking, asset management, and enterprise infrastructure. These aren’t your average crypto collabs—they’re serious, regulated, and enterprise-grade partnerships that put XRP in prime position.

Let’s start with the banks. Metaco has worked with global Tier 1 financial institutions like BBVA, Standard Chartered’s Zodia Custody, and BNP Paribas. These aren’t just sandbox experiments—they’re full-fledged deployments of Metaco’s Harmonize platform to manage tokenized assets, including cryptocurrencies and stablecoins. With Ripple now owning Metaco, XRP is poised to ride shotgun in these integrations. That means more institutional-grade custody, more trading rails, and more use cases for XRP in cross-border payments and liquidity provisioning.

• BBVA Switzerland: One of the first major banks to integrate crypto services using Metaco’s Harmonize. XRP could be next on the menu.
• Zodia Custody: A joint venture by Standard Chartered and Northern Trust, Zodia uses Metaco’s tech to offer institutional crypto custody with a regulatory-first approach.
• IBM Cloud integration: Harmonize supports deployment on IBM Cloud, making it easier for global banks to run Metaco’s stack securely and compliantly.

And it’s not just banks. Metaco has also integrated with leading core banking and enterprise software providers like Avaloq and Temenos. These platforms power hundreds of banks globally, and thanks to Metaco, they now have the ability to offer digital asset custody—including XRP—without ripping out their existing infrastructure. That’s like giving a 747 a crypto upgrade without landing the plane.

The ripple effect (pun absolutely intended) of these integrations is enormous. With XRP now embedded in Metaco’s ecosystem, Ripple can offer financial institutions a plug-and-play solution to adopt XRP for settlement, tokenization, and liquidity—all without building new systems from scratch. It lowers the barrier to entry, speeds up deployment, and enhances trust in the XRP ecosystem.

Also worth noting is Metaco’s commitment to interoperability. Its platform is designed to integrate with a wide array of third-party services, from compliance tools and KYC providers to blockchain analytics and trading engines. This API-first approach means that XRP isn’t siloed—it’s woven into the broader fabric of institutional digital finance. Whether it’s enabling XRP collateralization in DeFi protocols or facilitating instant settlement in tokenized securities, Metaco’s integrations are the glue that connects XRP to the real world.

So if you’re wondering how XRP plans to scale from crypto-native use cases to mainstream finance, look no further than Metaco’s partnerships. They’re not just building bridges—they’re laying down the interstate highway system for institutional blockchain adoption. And at the center of it all? XRP, ready to move at the speed of trust.

Regulatory compliance and security

Let’s face it—nothing sends institutional investors running faster than a whiff of non-compliance. In crypto, regulatory uncertainty is like the weather in London: always looming, often unpredictable, and best handled with layers of protection. That’s where Metaco’s Swiss-engineered approach to compliance and security shines. With Ripple now leveraging this infrastructure, XRP gets a regulatory bodyguard that would make even the most conservative compliance officer breathe easier.

Metaco’s platform, Harmonize, was built from the ground up to meet the strictest regulatory and security standards. We’re not talking about duct-taped KYC portals or retrofitted AML scripts. We’re talking about a platform that’s ISO 27001 certified, GDPR-compliant, and designed to align with global financial regulations, including the FATF Travel Rule and the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). This kind of compliance isn’t optional when you’re courting central banks and Tier 1 institutions—it’s the entry ticket to the big leagues.

• Auditability: Harmonize offers full transaction logs, immutable audit trails, and real-time reporting—perfect for satisfying both internal governance and external regulators.
• Segregated key management: Uses advanced cryptographic solutions like MPC and HSMs to ensure that private keys are never exposed, even during signing operations.
• Customizable compliance workflows: Institutions can configure transaction approvals, role-based access controls, and geographic restrictions to meet jurisdiction-specific requirements.

And here’s where XRP enters the regulatory spotlight. With Metaco’s compliance backbone, Ripple can offer XRP custody and settlement services in highly regulated markets without raising red flags. Whether it’s a European bank exploring XRP for cross-border payments or an Asian sovereign fund considering tokenized XRP bonds, the infrastructure now exists to support those use cases within a compliant framework. That’s not just good for business—it’s essential for scale.

Security-wise, Metaco isn’t messing around. Its defense-in-depth strategy combines cryptographic compartmentalization, zero-trust architecture, and continuous monitoring. The platform was designed to withstand insider threats, supply chain attacks, and even quantum computing risks on the horizon. For XRP holders and institutional partners, this means confidence that assets won’t vanish into the digital ether due to sloppy key management or software vulnerabilities.

And let’s not forget regulatory agility. As crypto regulations evolve in real time—looking at you, SEC—Metaco’s modular compliance engine allows Ripple to adapt without overhauling the entire system. Need to integrate a new AML vendor? Done. Require jurisdictional controls for a new market? No problem. This kind of flexibility ensures that XRP remains not only usable but compliant across a wide range of financial environments.

In short, Ripple didn’t just acquire a custody solution—it acquired a fortress. Metaco’s blend of compliance rigor and security innovation positions XRP as a digital asset that institutions can trust, regulators can approve, and developers can build on. In an industry where reputation is everything and one breach can derail years of progress, Metaco gives XRP the credibility it needs to lead in blockchain finance.