Metaco

Company overview

You ever hear the phrase “Switzerland: where your secrets are safe”? Well, in the case of Metaco, it’s not just about secret bank accounts and chocolate recipes—it’s about revolutionizing digital asset custody with military-grade precision. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Metaco is not your typical fintech startup. It’s a full-stack digital asset infrastructure firm that’s been quietly making institutional crypto custody cooler than a cold wallet stored in a glacier.

Let’s get one thing straight—Metaco isn’t here to help you store your meme coins in a shoebox. This is high-stakes, enterprise-grade custody infrastructure, purpose-built for banks, asset managers, and regulated institutions that can’t afford to fumble the keys. Their flagship product, Harmonize, is a digital asset orchestration system designed to bring order to the chaos of crypto custody. And if you’ve been around the blockchain block, you know that custody is the Achilles’ heel of institutional adoption. Metaco is patching that up with Swiss precision.

Now, things got especially interesting in May 2023 when Ripple—yes, that Ripple—acquired Metaco for a cool 0 million. That’s not pocket change, even in crypto terms. This strategic acquisition wasn’t just about expanding Ripple’s portfolio; it was a tactical move to fortify its grip on institutional blockchain finance. With Metaco now part of the Ripple ecosystem, XRP just earned itself a VIP seat at the high-security custody table.

Why does this matter? Because XRP isn’t just a coin you HODL and forget. It’s a utility-first digital asset designed for real-world use cases like cross-border payments, liquidity provisioning, and on-demand settlement. And institutions handling billions in assets aren’t going to touch XRP—or any digital asset—without bulletproof custody solutions. That’s where Metaco enters the chat.

The Swiss firm brings a wealth of institutional relationships and a reputation for compliance-first, modular architecture. Whether you’re a Tier 1 bank or a fintech unicorn, Metaco’s infrastructure can be deployed on-premise or in the cloud, giving institutions the flexibility to manage XRP and other digital assets without compromising on security or control.

And let’s not forget, this acquisition isn’t just Ripple flexing its M&A muscles. It’s a calculated step toward making XRP the backbone of institutional blockchain finance. With Metaco in the fold, Ripple can now offer fully integrated custody services—something that traditional custodians and crypto-native firms alike have struggled to scale effectively.

When you combine Ripple’s global payment network with Metaco’s custody prowess, you’re not just storing XRP—you’re enabling its real-time, secure, and compliant movement across borders and platforms. That’s not just infrastructure; that’s financial evolution.

Understanding Metaco and Its Impact on XRP

So what does all this mean for XRP holders and the broader crypto ecosystem? In a word: legitimacy. Metaco’s institutional-grade custody solutions are a game-changer for XRP adoption among banks, hedge funds, and payment providers. Institutions aren’t just looking for yield—they’re looking for infrastructure they can trust. And Metaco delivers exactly that.

With Ripple now integrating Metaco into its enterprise offerings, the XRP Ledger becomes even more attractive for high-volume, regulated financial use cases. We’re talking about a future where XRP isn’t just traded on exchanges—it’s held in custody vaults by major financial institutions, used as a bridge asset for tokenized securities, and integrated into the workflows of central banks and payment service providers. That’s not just bullish—it’s transformative.

• Institutional-Grade Security: Metaco’s Harmonize platform offers end-to-end encryption, policy-based governance, and hardware security module (HSM) integrations.
• Modular Deployment: Can be deployed on-premises, in public or private clouds, or in hybrid configurations—perfect for banks with strict compliance requirements.
• Regulatory Alignment: Built with a compliance-first approach, supporting global AML and KYC standards critical for institutional adoption.
• Enhanced XRP Utility: By enabling secure custody of XRP, Metaco paves the way for its use in lending, staking, and tokenized asset markets.

Think of it this way: Ripple just gave XRP a Swiss-made vault, complete with biometric locks and laser tripwires. And in a world where digital assets are becoming the backbone of modern finance, that kind of security isn’t optional—it’s mission-critical.

At XRPAuthority.com, we’re tracking every twist in this narrative. Whether you’re a seasoned XRP whale or a curious fintech professional, we’ve got the insights you need to stay ahead of the curve. Bookmark us, follow us, and get ready—because the future of blockchain finance isn’t just coming. It’s already here.

Products and services

If you thought Metaco was just another crypto custody firm, buckle up—because its suite of products and services is more layered than your favorite DeFi stack. At the heart of Metaco’s offerings is Harmonize, a digital asset orchestration platform that’s basically the Swiss Army knife of institutional crypto custody. Harmonize isn’t just about safekeeping digital assets; it’s about enabling secure, compliant, and scalable operations across the entire lifecycle of digital assets—from issuance and storage to trading and settlement.

What sets Harmonize apart? For starters, it’s built with modularity in mind, allowing institutions to integrate it into their existing tech stacks without needing to tear everything down and start from scratch. That’s a big win for banks and asset managers who want to explore blockchain finance without hiring an army of Solidity developers. More importantly, Harmonize supports a wide range of digital assets—including XRP—making it a versatile tool in Ripple’s arsenal.

• Multi-asset support: Harmonize doesn’t just play favorites. It supports a broad spectrum of cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and tokenized assets—including the mighty XRP.
• Workflow automation: Institutions can define custom workflows, automate compliance checks, and enforce governance policies—without sacrificing agility or security.
• API-first architecture: Harmonize offers robust APIs that make it easy to integrate with trading platforms, treasury management systems, and blockchain networks.
• Custody as a service: Financial institutions can leverage Harmonize’s capabilities as a white-label solution, enabling them to offer crypto custody under their own brand.

But wait—there’s more. Through Harmonize, Metaco also offers secure key management solutions using Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) and Multi-Party Computation (MPC). In plain English? It’s like having Fort Knox-level security, with the flexibility of a cloud-native architecture. These cryptographic tools allow institutions to manage private keys securely across distributed teams and geographies—perfect for global finance operations dealing with XRP liquidity or cross-border settlements.

And let’s not overlook Metaco’s tokenization capabilities. Harmonize supports the issuance, management, and custody of tokenized assets—be it tokenized fiat, equities, or real estate. For Ripple, this opens the door to positioning XRP as a bridge currency in this emerging tokenized economy. Whether it’s a central bank rolling out a CBDC or a hedge fund tokenizing its portfolio, Metaco’s tools make it possible to integrate XRP into these new financial instruments with confidence and compliance.

So whether you’re a multinational bank dipping your toes into blockchain finance or a fintech startup ready to leap into Web3, Metaco’s product suite offers the infrastructure to scale securely. And now that it’s backed by Ripple, the synergy between custody and utility is unprecedented. XRP isn’t just being stored—it’s being activated, deployed, and trusted at an institutional level.

Partnerships and clients

Let’s be honest—when it comes to crypto, partnerships can be as flaky as a meme coin roadmap. But Metaco? They’ve been playing in a different league entirely. Long before the Ripple acquisition, Metaco had already established itself as the go-to custody solution for Tier 1 financial institutions looking to dip their toes—and eventually dive headfirst—into the world of digital assets. We’re not talking about fly-by-night crypto exchanges here; we’re talking about regulated banks, central securities depositories, and asset managers that move billions before breakfast.

One of Metaco’s most notable partnerships is with BBVA Switzerland, a subsidiary of the multinational Spanish bank BBVA. Back in 2021, BBVA launched crypto trading and custody services using Metaco’s Harmonize platform—making it one of the first traditional banks in Europe to offer fully integrated digital asset services. That’s not just a win for Metaco; it’s a massive validator for institutional interest in blockchain finance. And yes, XRP is squarely in the conversation when these institutions consider which assets to support securely and compliantly.

Then there’s Standard Chartered’s Zodia Custody—a name that carries heavyweight credibility in both traditional finance and the emerging digital asset space. Zodia leverages Metaco’s infrastructure to offer secure, bank-grade custody services to institutional clients. This isn’t just a white-label situation; it’s a strategic alignment that underscores Metaco’s ability to meet the rigorous demands of global financial institutions. And now that Metaco is under Ripple’s wing, it’s not hard to imagine XRP becoming a featured asset in these custody offerings, especially as regulatory clarity improves and institutional appetite grows.

• BBVA Switzerland: Offers crypto trading and custody services through Metaco’s Harmonize, enabling seamless integration of digital assets like XRP into private banking portfolios.
• Zodia Custody (Standard Chartered): Relies on Metaco for secure digital asset storage, setting the stage for institutional-grade custody of XRP and other regulated tokens.
• UnionBank of the Philippines: One of the first Southeast Asian banks to adopt Metaco’s platform for digital asset custody—highlighting XRP’s growing relevance in emerging markets.
• SGX (Singapore Exchange): Collaborated with Metaco on tokenization pilots, opening the door for XRP to play a role in tokenized securities and cross-border settlements.

What’s fascinating is how Metaco’s client base mirrors Ripple’s global vision for XRP. From Europe to Asia, Metaco’s footprint spans jurisdictions where Ripple is actively building corridors for cross-border payments. This overlap isn’t accidental—it’s strategic. With Metaco’s trusted custody infrastructure now part of Ripple’s toolkit, financial institutions already in the Metaco ecosystem are primed to expand their use of XRP in real-world applications like on-demand liquidity, FX settlement, and tokenized asset flows.

In a world where compliance is king and trust is currency, Metaco’s deep bench of institutional clients offers Ripple—and by extension, XRP—a fast track to mainstream financial integration. These aren’t just clients; they’re launchpads for the next phase of blockchain finance. And as always, we’ll be breaking it all down at XRPAuthority.com—your front-row seat to the XRP revolution.

Security and compliance

Let’s talk about the elephant in the crypto room—security. In a space where one misplaced private key can vaporize millions, and compliance lapses can land you on a regulator’s naughty list, Metaco doesn’t just play defense—it builds the fortress. When Ripple dropped 0 million on this Swiss crypto guardian, it wasn’t just buying software; it was securing a regulatory and technological moat around XRP’s institutional future.

At the heart of Metaco’s security model is its zero-compromise approach to key management. Harmonize leverages Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) and Multi-Party Computation (MPC) to create a distributed security perimeter that’s virtually bulletproof. These are not your average wallet solutions. We’re talking about cryptographic protocols so robust they make Fort Knox look like a garden shed. For institutions managing XRP at scale, this kind of infrastructure is non-negotiable.

• HSM-backed Key Storage: Private keys are generated and stored in tamper-proof environments, ensuring no single point of failure.
• MPC Protocols: Key shares are distributed across geographically dispersed servers, eliminating the risk of insider threats or physical breaches.
• Role-based Access Controls: Institutions can define granular access permissions based on user roles, ensuring compliance with internal governance policies.
• Audit Trails & Real-time Monitoring: Every action is logged and monitored for anomalies, making compliance audits smoother than a Swiss fondue.

But Metaco’s security prowess is only half the equation. The other half? Compliance. And let’s be honest—navigating global regulatory frameworks makes solving a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded look easy. Metaco’s infrastructure is built to meet the highest regulatory standards, including GDPR, FATF, and the ever-expanding alphabet soup of regional crypto laws. This is critical for Ripple’s ambition to make XRP the institutional bridge asset of choice.

Metaco enables institutions to implement policy-based governance, allowing them to enforce regulatory requirements directly into their digital asset workflows. Whether it’s KYC checks on wallet addresses or AML screening on transactions, Metaco ensures that compliance isn’t a bolt-on—it’s baked in. This is a huge selling point for banks and financial institutions that need to show regulators they’re not just dipping their toes into crypto—they’re doing it by the book.

And let’s not overlook jurisdictional alignment. With clients across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, Metaco has proven its ability to operate within diverse regulatory environments. That’s a direct value-add for Ripple, whose XRP-powered solutions are already live in dozens of countries. The synergy here is powerful: Ripple provides the liquidity rails, while Metaco ensures those rails are secure, compliant, and regulator-ready.

In an industry where headlines are often made by hacks, exploits, and enforcement actions, Metaco stands out as a beacon of trust. It’s not just about safeguarding XRP—it’s about enabling its institutional use with the kind of security and compliance muscle that regulators respect and enterprises require. And that, my friends, is how you build a blockchain future with staying power.