Metaco

Company overview

Ever try explaining crypto custody to your grandma? You might as well try teaching her how to mine Bitcoin using a toaster. But here’s the twist—institutional crypto custody isn’t just complex; it’s the backbone of trust in blockchain finance. And in May 2023, Ripple, the heavyweight champion of cross-border payments, dropped a cool 0 million to acquire Metaco, a Swiss-based crypto custody firm that’s been quietly revolutionizing how digital assets are stored and secured. Why? Because Ripple knows that if XRP is going to dominate the future of global finance, it needs Fort Knox-level protection with Swiss precision. Enter Metaco.

Let’s face it—crypto adoption isn’t just about moon memes and market caps. It’s about infrastructure. While the world debates whether XRP is a currency or a security, institutions are out here asking the real questions: “Where do we securely store millions in digital assets?” and “How do we manage tokenized securities without ending up on a hacker’s wishlist?” Metaco has those answers, and now, Ripple does too.

Founded in the heart of Switzerland (yes, the land of chocolate, watches, and “we don’t disclose our clients”), Metaco built its reputation as a fortress for digital asset custody. Their flagship platform, Harmonize, is the digital vault of choice for global banks, asset managers, and financial institutions diving headfirst into the token economy. It’s not just about locking up crypto—it’s about orchestrating complex workflows, compliance, governance, and access control across multi-chain environments. Spoiler: this is exactly what Ripple needed to scale XRP across institutional corridors.

Ripple’s acquisition of Metaco wasn’t just a headline—it was a strategic chess move. Picture this: Ripple, already powering real-time global payments with XRP, now integrating Metaco’s custody infrastructure to offer end-to-end tokenization and settlement for enterprise clients. It’s like adding a Swiss army knife to a blockchain-powered rocket ship. Suddenly, Ripple isn’t just the XRP ledger company—it’s an institutional fintech powerhouse with custody baked into its DNA.

And let’s be honest—0 million isn’t pocket change, even in crypto. Ripple didn’t spend that kind of money on a whim. They saw what’s coming: central banks issuing digital currencies, tokenized assets becoming mainstream, and institutional players needing compliant, scalable custody solutions. With Metaco in its corner, Ripple now offers more than just liquidity and speed—it offers trust, security, and enterprise-grade infrastructure.

This acquisition also signals a broader trend: the convergence of traditional finance with blockchain-native innovation. As financial titans like HSBC and Citi wade into tokenization, they’re going to demand secure, interoperable custody solutions. Metaco’s Swiss roots and rigorous compliance standards make it the ideal partner. And Ripple? It’s positioning XRP as the liquidity layer for everything from tokenized real estate to cross-border CBDC settlements. Yes, it’s that deep.

So, what exactly makes Metaco the crown jewel in Ripple’s growing empire? Beyond the headlines, it’s about capability, credibility, and composability. Metaco doesn’t just store digital assets—it enables institutions to deploy them safely, compliantly, and at scale. For XRP holders, this is more than just good news—it’s a glimpse into a future where XRP is not only traded but trusted at the highest levels of global finance.

Understanding Metaco and Its Impact on XRP

Metaco isn’t your average fintech startup. It’s the quiet giant behind the scenes, enabling some of the world’s largest financial institutions to interact with digital assets without losing sleep over security breaches or regulatory landmines. With its acquisition, Ripple now has a turnkey solution to offer regulated crypto custody to banks and enterprises looking to integrate blockchain finance into their operations. This means better control over XRP liquidity pools, more compliant integrations, and a surge in use cases for XRP across capital markets.

For XRP, Metaco’s infrastructure unlocks a new level of institutional adoption. Imagine a world where XRP isn’t just a bridge currency for cross-border payments but also the settlement layer for tokenized securities, stablecoins, and real-world assets. That’s not sci-fi—it’s the roadmap Ripple is building. With Metaco, XRP can now sit securely in the custody stacks of tier-1 banks, ready to move at lightning speed when value needs to cross borders, asset classes, or time zones.

• Swiss-grade security: Metaco’s infrastructure is built to meet the highest standards in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance.
• Institutional trust: Used by banks and asset managers across Europe and Asia, Metaco’s platform is already battle-tested in financial markets.
• Multi-asset support: Beyond XRP, Metaco supports a wide range of tokens, making it ideal for diversified crypto strategies.
• Seamless integration: Ripple can now offer custody, liquidity, and settlement in a unified suite—no more patchwork solutions.

In crypto, custody isn’t a footnote—it’s the foundation. And with Metaco, Ripple has secured a critical pillar in building the next generation of blockchain finance. Whether you’re an XRP investor, a fintech strategist, or a curious TradFi executive, this acquisition marks a pivotal moment: XRP is evolving from a fast token to a full-stack financial instrument, trusted by institutions, empowered by infrastructure, and secured by Swiss engineering.

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Products and services

Let’s break it down—Metaco isn’t just offering a digital safe for your crypto; it’s delivering a full-blown command center for digital asset orchestration. Its flagship product, Harmonize, is more than a custody solution—it’s a modular, bank-grade platform that lets financial institutions manage digital assets across the entire lifecycle. We’re talking everything from secure key management to policy-controlled workflows, compliance automation, token issuance, and even staking. It’s basically the Swiss Army knife for institutional crypto infrastructure—and it’s now fully integrated into Ripple’s ecosystem.

What makes Harmonize so disruptive? It’s designed to be invisible but indispensable. The platform seamlessly plugs into a bank’s existing infrastructure via APIs, enabling traditional financial players to interact with digital assets without reinventing their entire tech stack. Think of it as the middleware that bridges TradFi with DeFi—without compromising on security or compliance. And now that Ripple owns this tech, XRP can be natively embedded into the custody and transaction layers of the world’s most secure financial networks.

• Policy-driven access control: Institutions can set granular permissions, ensuring that only authorized personnel can initiate or approve transactions. No more sticky notes with private keys.
• Multi-chain capability: Harmonize supports not just XRP, but also Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, and private blockchains—making it ideal for diverse digital asset portfolios.
• Tokenization-as-a-service: Financial institutions can issue, manage, and settle tokenized assets directly from Metaco’s platform, with XRP as a native liquidity rail.
• Cold-to-hot key orchestration: Institutions can move assets between cold, warm, and hot wallets based on real-time risk thresholds and business logic.

But here’s the kicker: with Ripple’s global payment network and liquidity engine fused into Metaco’s custody stack, the possibilities explode. Imagine a multinational bank issuing tokenized bonds on a private blockchain, settling in real-time using XRP, while custodying those tokens with Metaco’s infrastructure—all from a single dashboard. That’s not a concept—it’s the new institutional playbook.

And let’s not ignore the regulatory angle. Metaco’s services are built to meet stringent compliance standards across multiple jurisdictions. With features like automated audit trails, rule-based governance, and integration with AML/KYC systems, it’s tailor-made for institutions navigating the increasingly complex landscape of crypto regulation. For Ripple, that’s a game-changer. It means XRP can now move through regulated custody pipelines without friction, opening doors to new use cases in capital markets, central bank digital currencies, and beyond.

Bottom line? Metaco’s products and services aren’t just about safekeeping—they’re about enabling secure, compliant, and scalable digital asset operations. With Ripple at the helm, these tools are no longer just Swiss-made—they’re globally deployed. And XRP? It’s the fuel powering this new financial engine.

Partnerships and clients

When your customers include the same global banks that once gave crypto the side-eye, you know you’re doing something right. Metaco didn’t just walk into the institutional arena—they kicked the doors down with a client list that reads like a Who’s Who of international finance. From tier-1 European banks to Asia-Pacific asset managers, Metaco’s partnerships are proof that traditional finance isn’t just flirting with blockchain—it’s putting a ring on it. And now, with Ripple in the picture, XRP is sliding into the DMs of institutional portfolios everywhere.

Let’s talk specifics. Before Ripple’s acquisition, Metaco had already inked deals with major players like BBVA Switzerland, which leveraged Metaco’s Harmonize platform to offer crypto trading and custody to its private banking clients. Then there’s Standard Chartered’s SC Ventures and DBS Bank, both of which explored digital asset custody using Metaco’s infrastructure. These aren’t just pilot programs—they’re strategic deployments in live financial environments. With Ripple now integrating XRP into this infrastructure, the token isn’t just a means of transfer; it becomes a plug-and-play asset for institutional-grade custody and settlement.

• BBVA Switzerland: One of the first traditional banks to offer end-to-end crypto services via Metaco’s custody stack—now poised to expand XRP offerings.
• Standard Chartered’s Zodia Custody: A Metaco-powered platform that exemplifies how legacy banks are embracing tokenized assets and blockchain-native protocols.
• UnionBank of the Philippines: Partnered with Metaco to launch digital asset services in a region rapidly adopting crypto and blockchain finance.

These partnerships aren’t just about checking the “we do crypto” box—they’re about building the infrastructure that will support digital asset trading, tokenization, and settlement for decades to come. And now that Ripple controls the pipes, XRP flows through them like water through a hydroelectric dam. Whether it’s tokenized government bonds, CBDCs, or cross-border settlements, these institutions can now rely on Metaco’s hardened security and Ripple’s liquidity engine to move value at scale—with XRP as a core component.

Even more compelling is the geographical spread of Metaco’s client base. We’re talking Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America—regions where RippleNet is already active. This synergy creates a powerful flywheel: as Metaco’s clients expand their digital asset offerings, Ripple can embed XRP into custody, trading, and settlement workflows seamlessly. And for institutional investors still sitting on the sidelines? Seeing big-name banks adopt XRP custody might just be the confidence boost they need to make the leap.

In short, Metaco’s client portfolio isn’t just a list—it’s a launchpad. With Ripple in the driver’s seat, these partnerships are evolving from isolated deployments to integrated ecosystems. And at the center of it all? XRP, ready to move, settle, and scale with the speed and security global finance demands.

Security and compliance

In the world of institutional finance, “secure enough” just doesn’t cut it—especially when you’re safeguarding billions in digital assets. That’s why Metaco’s reputation for ironclad security and regulatory compliance isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s the cornerstone of its value proposition. And now that Ripple owns the keys to this crypto fortress, XRP is wrapped in the kind of protection that would make Fort Knox blush. From cold storage protocols to regulatory-grade audit trails, Metaco isn’t just compliant—it’s practically bulletproof.

Let’s start with the basics: Metaco’s architecture is built around a zero-trust security model. That means every action—whether it’s a transaction, a key rotation, or a user login—is scrutinized, logged, and governed by policy. No shortcuts. No exceptions. This level of operational rigor is what gives institutional clients the confidence to custody not only Bitcoin and Ether, but also more specialized assets like XRP. And for Ripple, that translates into a strategic upgrade in how XRP is presented to regulators, banks, and custodians around the world.

• Hardware Security Modules (HSMs): Metaco uses certified HSMs to generate and store private keys, isolating them from online threats. These are the same standards used by military-grade encryption systems.
• Multi-party computation (MPC): For clients who want bleeding-edge protection, Metaco offers MPC-based key management, which breaks cryptographic keys into pieces and distributes them across multiple devices or locations.
• End-to-end encryption: All communication within the platform is encrypted at the transport and application layers, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality at every step.
• Immutable audit trails: Every action is logged immutably, supporting real-time compliance monitoring and post-event forensic analysis.

But Metaco’s security doesn’t stop at the technical layer—it’s deeply intertwined with global regulatory frameworks. The company is known for its ability to tailor deployments to local compliance standards, whether in the European Union under MiCA, in Singapore under MAS guidelines, or in the U.S. under SEC scrutiny. That’s a huge win for Ripple. It means XRP can now be deployed and managed in fully compliant environments, opening the door to regulated asset managers, custodial banks, and even central banks exploring CBDCs.

Here’s where things get interesting for XRP holders: because Metaco’s platform is designed to be regulator-ready, Ripple can now offer custody solutions that meet KYC/AML standards out of the box. That’s not just a compliance checkbox—it’s a strategic enabler. It allows XRP to move freely within regulated corridors, whether for tokenized bond settlements, interbank transfers, or cross-border payments under FATF guidelines. In short, Metaco gives Ripple the regulatory credibility it needs to position XRP as a serious financial instrument—not just a fast token, but a trusted one.

And let’s not forget the growing demand from institutional investors for real-time compliance. Metaco integrates compliance automation tools directly into its Harmonize platform, enabling smart policy enforcement, transaction screening, and risk scoring before assets even move. This is the kind of proactive governance that makes regulators breathe easier—and makes Ripple’s institutional custody suite a no-brainer for any financial institution eyeing blockchain finance.

In crypto, security is the moat, and compliance is the bridge. With Metaco, Ripple hasn’t just deepened the moat around XRP—it’s built a regulatory highway right into the heart of traditional finance. That’s how you scale a digital asset from speculative to systemic. The future of finance will be tokenized, regulated, and interoperable—and thanks to Metaco, XRP is now architected for all three.