Metaco

Company overview

Ever wonder what happens when Swiss engineering meets blockchain innovation? No, it’s not a luxury watch that mines Bitcoin — it’s better. It’s Metaco, a crypto custody powerhouse that’s quietly been building the digital equivalent of Fort Knox for institutional assets. And in May 2023, Ripple — yes, the same Ripple that’s been making waves with XRP — decided it wasn’t going to let this gem stay under the radar. With a cool 0 million, Ripple acquired Metaco, signaling a bold move to dominate the institutional custody space. That’s not just a flex; it’s a strategic masterstroke.

Now, if you’re picturing a bunch of Swiss guys in lab coats guarding USB drives in a bunker, you’re not far off — minus the lab coats. Metaco is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, a country known for chocolate, banking secrecy, and now, leading-edge crypto custody tech. Established in 2015, Metaco has carved out a reputation for providing ultra-secure digital asset infrastructure to banks, exchanges, and large financial institutions. Think of it as the digital vault that even hackers whisper about in hushed tones.

Metaco’s real magic lies in its Harmonize platform — a modular digital asset orchestration engine built for scale, flexibility, and compliance. Institutions can integrate crypto custody into their existing systems without a rip-and-replace headache. Whether it’s tokenized securities, stablecoins, or XRP, Metaco’s tech ensures these assets are stored, managed, and governed with military-grade security and Swiss precision. It’s not flashy, but it’s the backbone of trust in an industry where trust is everything.

So, why did Ripple splash 0 million on a custody firm? Simple. Ripple isn’t just trying to move money faster across borders — it’s building a full-stack infrastructure for institutional blockchain finance. With XRP at the core, Ripple envisions a world where banks and asset managers can hold and manage digital assets just as easily as fiat. Metaco’s infrastructure makes that vision executable, at scale, and with compliance baked in.

Let’s not kid ourselves — institutional adoption of crypto doesn’t happen without secure custody. Regulators demand it, risk managers require it, and stakeholders expect it. By bringing Metaco into the Ripple ecosystem, the XRP ledger becomes more than just a fast and efficient blockchain. It evolves into an institutional-grade settlement platform with custody solutions built from the ground up. That’s a serious upgrade for XRP’s utility in cross-border payments, tokenization, and liquidity provisioning.

And if you’re wondering how this plays into the bigger fintech chessboard, consider this: the world’s largest financial institutions are actively exploring digital asset custody. Goldman Sachs, BNY Mellon, and even the IMF are dipping their toes into blockchain. Ripple, now armed with Metaco, is not just keeping pace — it’s setting the tempo. The acquisition positions Ripple as a full-service provider for enterprise-grade crypto infrastructure, with XRP as the engine powering global liquidity.

In essence, Metaco isn’t just a Swiss custody firm; it’s the key that unlocks the next phase of institutional blockchain adoption. And with Ripple holding that key, XRP’s role in global finance just got a whole lot more interesting.

Understanding Metaco and Its Impact on XRP

So how exactly does Metaco fit into the XRP ecosystem? In a word: seamlessly. Metaco’s Harmonize platform enables institutions to securely store, manage, and govern digital assets — including XRP — across multiple custodians and jurisdictions. This isn’t just about safekeeping; it’s about enabling efficient, compliant, and scalable operations for financial institutions that want to handle XRP in real-world use cases.

With Metaco integrated into Ripple’s services, XRP can now be held and transacted by banks and asset managers with the same confidence they have in handling fiat or traditional securities. That’s a game-changer. It removes one of the last barriers to large-scale XRP adoption in regulated environments. By solving custody at the institutional level, Ripple is essentially laying down the runway for XRP to take off in mainstream finance, from tokenized real estate to instant cross-border settlements.

• Security-first infrastructure: Metaco’s tech stack is designed with zero-trust architecture, hardware security modules (HSMs), and policy-based governance.
• Regulatory alignment: Metaco complies with stringent Swiss and international regulations, making it a trusted partner for banks and regulated entities.
• Multi-asset support: While XRP is a focal point, Metaco supports a wide range of digital assets, enabling diversified custody strategies.
• Interoperability: Institutions can integrate Metaco into their existing core banking and trading systems with minimal friction.

In short, Metaco is the invisible force that makes institutional XRP custody not only possible, but practical. And in the world of blockchain finance, practicality is what turns potential into progress. XRPAuthority.com is your go-to source for understanding these shifts, staying ahead of the curve, and making sense of the ever-evolving crypto landscape. Let’s keep building, keep learning, and keep unlocking the future of finance — one XRP at a time.

Products and services

If you thought Metaco was just a digital asset locker with Swiss branding, buckle up — the product suite is far more sophisticated than a cold wallet in a mountain vault. At the heart of Metaco’s offerings is Harmonize, the orchestration engine that powers institutional-grade digital asset custody. This platform isn’t just about safekeeping; it’s a full-stack solution that enables banks, asset managers, and corporates to tokenize, store, trade, and settle digital assets — all under one secure and compliant roof.

Harmonize is modular by design and API-first in execution, which means it plays nicely with existing financial infrastructure. Want to integrate with your core banking system? No problem. Need to plug into a trading desk or liquidity provider? Easy. This flexibility allows institutions to offer crypto services — including XRP custody — without reinventing their tech stack. It’s like upgrading your car to autonomous driving without replacing the engine. And for Ripple, that means XRP can now move through regulated pipelines with institutional-grade control and visibility.

But the real magic? Harmonize supports multi-party computation (MPC) and hardware security modules (HSMs), delivering a layered security model that aligns with zero-trust principles. This is crucial when dealing with high-value digital assets and regulatory scrutiny. In fact, Harmonize doesn’t just store keys — it orchestrates the entire lifecycle of digital asset operations, including:

• Policy-based governance: Define who can do what, when, and how — all with audit trails and compliance baked in.
• Workflow automation: Automate approvals, transaction flows, and compliance checks for XRP and other assets.
• Digital asset tokenization: Enable issuance and custody of tokenized securities, stablecoins, and NFTs with enterprise-grade controls.
• Smart contract support: Interact with DeFi protocols and on-chain applications while maintaining institutional safeguards.

One of the standout features is multi-custodian orchestration. Institutions don’t need to be locked into a single provider — they can manage XRP and other assets across multiple custodians from one dashboard. This reduces operational risk and enhances capital efficiency, which, in turn, increases XRP’s appeal as a liquidity tool in global finance. Imagine a world where a tier-one bank in Singapore can custody XRP in Switzerland while settling trades in London — all through Harmonize. That’s not the future; that’s now.

For Ripple and the XRP Ledger, Metaco’s product capabilities unlock a powerful trifecta: secure custody, seamless compliance, and scalable deployment. Whether it’s cross-border payments, treasury management, or tokenized assets, institutions can now use XRP without operational friction. And when you’re trying to onboard the world’s largest financial players, friction is your biggest enemy. Metaco eliminates that friction like a well-oiled Swiss gearbox.

At XRPAuthority.com, we keep a close eye on these developments because they’re not just technical upgrades — they’re strategic inflection points. As Metaco’s products continue to evolve under Ripple’s umbrella, the real winners will be the institutions ready to embrace blockchain finance — and the XRP investors who saw it coming.

Partnerships and clients

Let’s talk clientele — because in crypto custody, your client list is your credibility. And Metaco’s roster reads like a who’s who of global finance. We’re not talking about scrappy startups or weekend traders; Metaco serves heavyweight institutions, including global banks, central banks, and Tier 1 asset managers. These aren’t just clients — they’re strategic partners that validate Metaco’s infrastructure at the highest levels of compliance and scale.

Before Ripple swooped in with its 0 million acquisition, Metaco had already forged partnerships with some of the most respected names in finance. For example, BBVA Switzerland uses Metaco’s Harmonize platform to offer crypto trading and custody to its private banking clients. Standard Chartered’s Zodia Custody, a regulated crypto custodian, also relies on Metaco’s technology to secure digital asset operations across Europe and Asia. These are not experiments — these are production-grade deployments in live financial environments.

And let’s not forget UnionBank of the Philippines, which became the first bank in the country to launch a digital asset custody service — powered by Metaco. That’s a big deal, especially in emerging markets where financial inclusion and digital transformation are accelerating. By enabling institutions to custody assets like XRP securely and compliantly, Metaco is not only expanding Ripple’s footprint but also unlocking new corridors for cross-border liquidity.

• BBVA Switzerland: Offers crypto trading and custody services to private banking clients using Metaco’s infrastructure.
• Zodia Custody (Standard Chartered): Leverages Harmonize for institutional-grade crypto security and operations.
• UnionBank of the Philippines: First in the region to deploy digital asset custody services with Metaco’s tech stack.
• Multiple Tier 1 Banks: Engaged in confidential pilots and production rollouts across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

What does this mean for XRP? Quite a bit. Each institutional partnership powered by Metaco is a potential on-ramp for XRP adoption. Whether it’s enabling real-time remittances, tokenized asset trading, or treasury flows, XRP becomes a viable option for institutions already using Harmonize. And given Ripple’s global ambitions, these partnerships serve as launchpads for scaling XRP utility across borders and asset classes.

Metaco’s client ecosystem isn’t just impressive — it’s strategically aligned with Ripple’s mission to modernize global finance. The institutions already trusting Metaco for custody can now extend those capabilities directly into the Ripple ecosystem, with XRP as the bridge asset. That’s not just synergy — that’s vertical integration with a global twist.

Security and compliance

Let’s face it — in the world of institutional crypto, “security and compliance” isn’t just a checklist item; it’s the entire game. You can have the fastest blockchain, the most liquid asset, and the slickest UI, but if your custody solution can’t stand up to regulatory audits or cyber threats, you’re toast. This is where Metaco shines like a Swiss vault under a forensic spotlight. Security and compliance aren’t features for Metaco — they’re fundamental design principles baked into every byte of its infrastructure.

Metaco’s security architecture follows a zero-trust model, which, in plain English, means nothing and no one is inherently trusted — not even internal systems. Every action, access point, and transaction is verified, logged, and governed. This is enforced through advanced hardware security modules (HSMs) and multi-party computation (MPC) protocols, creating a fortress-like environment for digital asset custody. For institutions handling XRP and other high-value tokens, this means peace of mind in a world where a single vulnerability can cost millions — or worse, reputational ruin.

On the compliance front, Metaco doesn’t just “keep up” with regulation — it anticipates it. Headquartered in Switzerland, one of the most forward-thinking jurisdictions for digital assets, Metaco is already compliant with stringent FINMA and international AML/CFT guidelines. But it doesn’t stop there. The Harmonize platform is built to support customizable, policy-based workflows that align with MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) in the EU, SEC and CFTC frameworks in the U.S., and MAS regulations in Singapore. This global compliance footprint makes it an ideal custody partner for multinational financial institutions looking to operate across jurisdictions without legal headaches.

• Zero-trust security model: Every access point is authenticated, authorized, and audited — no assumptions, no shortcuts.
• Regulatory-grade infrastructure: Built to comply with Swiss FINMA, EU MiCA, U.S. SEC/CFTC, and APAC regulatory standards.
• Auditability: Full transaction logs, role-based permissions, and immutable records support internal and third-party audits.
• Disaster recovery and resilience: Redundant systems and encrypted backups ensure business continuity under any scenario.

So what does all this mean for XRP? In a word: legitimacy. With Metaco’s custodial security and compliance framework now integrated into Ripple’s offerings, XRP becomes a fully viable asset for regulated financial institutions. Banks and asset managers can now store, move, and use XRP with confidence that their operations meet the highest security and compliance standards. That’s a huge unlock — not just for Ripple’s business model, but for XRP’s role in the future of blockchain finance.

At XRPAuthority.com, we believe that the path to mass adoption runs through trust — and in crypto, trust is built on security and regulatory clarity. Metaco delivers both in spades, making it the stealth MVP behind XRP’s rise in institutional finance. If you’re serious about understanding where XRP is headed and how it’s being woven into the fabric of global fintech, you’re in the right place. Stay tuned, stay sharp, and let’s build the future of finance — securely and compliantly — one XRP at a time.