Metaco

Company overview

Ever heard of a Swiss company that Ripple thought was worth a quarter of a billion dollars? No, they’re not making chocolate. They’re making crypto custody magic. Enter Metaco — the digital asset vault whisperer. In May 2023, Ripple, the powerhouse behind XRP, dropped a cool 0 million to acquire Metaco. Why? Because institutional-grade custody is the new black in blockchain fashion — and Ripple wants to be wearing it head to toe.

Let’s face it — crypto isn’t just moon memes and diamond hands anymore. Institutions are entering the chat, and they’re not bringing Ledger Nanos in their briefcases. What they need is robust, compliant, and scalable infrastructure that keeps their digital assets safer than a Swiss bank vault (ironically, that’s exactly where Metaco’s from). Ripple saw that writing on the blockchain and moved fast.

Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Metaco quickly became a leader in digital asset custody infrastructure for banks, asset managers, and financial institutions. Think of them as the digital Fort Knox for tokens — XRP included. Their flagship platform, Harmonize, allows institutions to securely manage, trade, and tokenize digital assets, all while keeping compliance regulators smiling.

Now, if you’re wondering why Ripple would invest 0 million during a time when the market was wobbling like a post-Fed-meeting candlestick, the answer is simple: long-term vision. Ripple knows that the future of finance is tokenized, and custody is the backbone of that ecosystem. Metaco provides the institutional-grade rails Ripple needs to position XRP as the go-to asset in global blockchain finance.

More than just a tech stack, Metaco brings a roster of Tier 1 clients across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Their tech already powers custody operations for some of the biggest names in traditional finance — banks that wouldn’t touch crypto unless it was wrapped in regulatory-grade bubble wrap. For Ripple, this means instant credibility and global reach to scale XRP utility beyond cross-border payments.

And it’s not just about storage. Metaco’s infrastructure supports tokenization, governance, and orchestration of digital assets — key pillars for any institution looking to jump into blockchain finance without falling flat on its face. This acquisition instantly upgraded Ripple’s institutional offering, putting XRP in a stronger position to be the liquidity backbone for tokenized assets worldwide.

Let’s not forget the strategic alignment: Metaco’s Swiss regulatory foundation gives Ripple a compliance edge in an increasingly fragmented global environment. As the SEC continues its “regulation-by-enforcement” tour, having a stronghold in a jurisdiction that embraces crypto innovation is more than just smart — it’s essential.

Understanding Metaco and Its Impact on XRP

So how exactly does Metaco move the needle for XRP? For starters, it cements Ripple’s evolution from a payment protocol into a full-blown enterprise blockchain ecosystem. With Metaco in its arsenal, Ripple can now offer a secure, scalable, and regulation-ready custody solution to banks and institutions looking to hold XRP and other digital assets. This dramatically expands XRP’s role in trading, tokenization, and asset management.

Metaco’s Harmonize platform is designed for interoperability across multiple blockchain networks, which means XRP can now be integrated into institutional workflows with minimal friction. That’s a big deal. We’re talking about XRP becoming a native asset in the portfolios of global banks, investment managers, and even central banks exploring CBDCs. With secure custody, the trust barrier is lowered — and adoption accelerates.

• Enables institutional-grade custody for XRP and other digital assets
• Supports multi-chain interoperability and tokenized asset management
• Boosts Ripple’s regulatory credibility through Swiss-based compliance
• Expands XRP’s utility in global finance, trading, and settlement

In short, Metaco is not just a tech acquisition — it’s a strategic foundation. It transforms Ripple’s institutional narrative and places XRP at the center of a secure, scalable, and compliant digital asset ecosystem. And if you’re holding XRP right now, you’re not just holding a token — you’re holding a piece of the infrastructure that could power the next era of blockchain finance.

Stay ahead of the crypto curve with XRPAuthority.com — your go-to source for real-time insights, deep dives, and expert analysis on everything XRP. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just getting started in blockchain finance, we’ve got your back with sharp takes and smarter strategies. Because in this market, authority matters — and we’re here to lead it.

Products and services

Let’s talk about what Metaco actually brings to the table — and spoiler alert: it’s more than just a shiny new logo on Ripple’s homepage. At the center of Metaco’s offerings is its flagship platform, Harmonize, a digital asset orchestration layer that makes managing crypto feel less like juggling flaming swords and more like conducting a symphony. Harmonize isn’t your average custody solution; it’s a modular, bank-grade platform designed to integrate seamlessly into the existing infrastructure of financial institutions.

What makes Harmonize a game-changer in blockchain finance is its ability to manage the full lifecycle of digital assets — from custody to tokenization to trading — all while meeting the compliance needs of even the most risk-averse institutions. It supports hot, warm, and cold storage configurations, giving clients control over how they secure their assets based on risk tolerance and operational needs. And yes, XRP is front and center — Harmonize is fully capable of storing, managing, and integrating XRP into complex institutional workflows.

• Multi-asset support: Harmonize handles not just XRP, but a wide range of tokens across multiple blockchains — making it an all-in-one solution for diversified portfolios.
• Policy engine: Institutions can define and enforce granular governance rules for asset operations, ensuring internal controls and regulatory compliance.
• Integration APIs: Plug-and-play APIs allow banks and asset managers to integrate Harmonize with their core systems — no need to reinvent the tech stack.
• Tokenization tools: Built-in support for issuing and managing tokenized assets, a key enabler for transforming real-world assets into blockchain-native instruments.
• Secure enclave architecture: Assets are protected using hardware security modules (HSMs) and confidential computing — think Fort Knox, but digital.

But Metaco doesn’t stop at just custody. It’s also offering white-labeled solutions that let banks and financial service providers launch their own digital asset services — under their brand, with their compliance processes, and Metaco’s infrastructure humming quietly in the background. This B2B2C approach is a clever play, allowing Ripple to scale XRP adoption by embedding it into the very DNA of institutional finance without forcing a retail-facing presence.

And here’s where it gets even more interesting for XRP holders: Metaco’s services allow for programmable access to liquidity. That means institutions can programmatically move XRP in and out of custody based on trading strategies, settlement events, or tokenized asset issuance. Imagine a future where XRP flows across financial rails in real time, automated by smart contracts and backed by Metaco’s ironclad custody — that’s the kind of infrastructure that turns speculative assets into enterprise-grade tools.

In essence, Metaco’s product suite isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s a must-have for any institution serious about entering the digital asset space. And with Ripple now owning that suite, XRP isn’t just along for the ride — it’s in the driver’s seat of a multi-trillion-dollar transformation in how value is stored, moved, and managed globally.

Partnerships and integrations

When it comes to making waves in blockchain finance, Metaco doesn’t play solo — it orchestrates an ensemble of powerhouse partnerships that blend traditional finance with decentralized innovation. Long before Ripple entered the picture, Metaco was already deep in the trenches, integrating with some of the most respected names in global banking and fintech. We’re talking about firms that don’t even let their coffee get cold without regulatory approval — and yet they trusted Metaco to handle their digital asset infrastructure. That says a lot.

Metaco’s integration partners include top-tier core banking providers like Avaloq, Temenos, and SAP Fioneer — platforms that underpin trillions of dollars in assets across the globe. These are the silent giants behind your bank’s user interface, and Metaco’s ability to plug directly into their ecosystems gives it a massive leg up. Through these integrations, financial institutions can offer custody and tokenization services without rebuilding their entire tech stack. That’s like getting a blockchain upgrade without a full system reboot.

• Avaloq Integration: Enables banks to manage digital assets alongside traditional ones within their core banking suite, streamlining operations and compliance.
• Temenos Partnership: Embeds Metaco’s custody infrastructure into the world’s most widely used banking software, accelerating crypto adoption in retail and private banking sectors.
• SAP Fioneer Collaboration: Bridges enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems with blockchain-based asset management, opening doors for corporate treasuries and fintechs.

Now, here’s where XRP starts to shine like a freshly minted ledger entry. Thanks to these integrations, XRP can now become a natively supported asset in institutional-grade platforms used by banks worldwide. That’s not just convenience — that’s strategic scale. With programmatic access to XRP through familiar banking systems, institutions can hold, trade, and deploy XRP as easily as fiat or securities. It’s a clear path to embedding XRP into the backbone of global finance — not just as a bridge currency, but as a programmable, custody-ready asset.

And let’s not overlook Ripple’s own enterprise relationships, which now benefit from Metaco’s tech. RippleNet clients — including Santander, SBI, and Tranglo — can now explore deeper custody and liquidity solutions for XRP, integrated directly into their existing infrastructure. This kind of synergy doesn’t just increase XRP’s utility; it transforms Ripple’s offering from a payments rail into a full-service digital asset platform. We’re talking about a future where XRP isn’t just the asset that moves value — it’s the asset that stores, manages, and secures it at scale.

These integrations also give Ripple and Metaco an edge in regulatory negotiations. By working with established financial infrastructure providers and embedding into systems already vetted by global regulators, the combined solution becomes significantly more palatable in jurisdictions with tight compliance requirements. It’s a Trojan horse — but instead of warriors, it’s filled with APIs, governance frameworks, and institutional-grade support for XRP.

Bottom line: Metaco’s partnerships are more than just logos on a slide deck. They’re the connective tissue that brings XRP into the heart of institutional finance. And with Ripple now owning the playbook, the integration of XRP into global banking workflows is no longer theoretical — it’s inevitable.

Security and compliance

If crypto custody were a high-stakes heist movie, Metaco would be the security expert who designs the vault no one can crack — and Ripple just hired them as their head of digital asset security. In the world of institutional blockchain finance, security isn’t optional; it’s the table stakes. And when you’re dealing with assets like XRP that are destined to move billions across borders, you need more than multi-sig wallets and good intentions. You need bulletproof architecture, airtight governance, and regulatory-grade compliance. That’s exactly where Metaco shines.

Metaco’s security model is built around a zero-trust framework — meaning no one, not even internal actors, can access critical systems without multiple layers of authentication and approval. Their Harmonize platform leverages confidential computing and hardware security modules (HSMs) to isolate cryptographic operations from the rest of the system. In plain English? Your XRP isn’t just locked up — it’s locked up in a vault inside a vault, with biometric scanners and a 24/7 surveillance team made of code.

• Confidential computing: Ensures sensitive operations — like signing transactions — occur in a tamper-proof environment, even from cloud administrators.
• Hardware-backed key management: Uses FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certified HSMs to store and handle private keys, the industry gold standard for crypto custody.
• Granular governance policies: Institutions can define role-based access controls, transaction approval workflows, and audit trails to align with internal compliance mandates.
• Zero-trust architecture: Every access request is verified and validated, minimizing the risk of insider threats or lateral attacks.
• Disaster recovery protocols: Fully redundant infrastructure and geographic key sharding ensure resilience against outages or catastrophic events.

And let’s talk compliance — because as much as we love decentralization, regulators still hold the keys to the institutional kingdom. Metaco was born in Switzerland, a jurisdiction that doesn’t just tolerate crypto — it regulates it with clarity. That regulatory pedigree gives Ripple a massive advantage as it expands XRP’s footprint in markets where compliance is a prerequisite, not a punchline. Metaco’s infrastructure is designed to align with global compliance standards like FATF’s Travel Rule, GDPR, and MiCA — and it’s already battle-tested by some of the most compliance-obsessed banks on the planet.

For Ripple, this means instant access to a custody solution that doesn’t just meet regulatory expectations — it anticipates them. That’s especially critical as the SEC continues to blur the line between innovation and enforcement. With Metaco in its toolkit, Ripple can offer its institutional clients a custody framework that satisfies even the most conservative compliance departments. And that, in turn, positions XRP as a low-friction, high-compliance asset in a world that’s increasingly risk-averse.

Security and compliance aren’t just features — they’re the foundation. Metaco didn’t build a custody solution for the speculative DeFi cowboy. They built it for the trillion-dollar institutions that move slowly, but move markets when they do. And now that Metaco is part of the Ripple family, XRP is strapped into that same institutional-grade framework — ready to be stored, governed, and deployed with confidence, at scale, and without compromise.

If you’re serious about understanding XRP’s evolving role in blockchain finance, don’t just follow the price chart — follow the infrastructure. And for that, XRPAuthority.com is your front-row seat to every strategic move, tech upgrade, and compliance breakthrough shaping the XRP ecosystem. Stay informed, stay empowered, and stay ahead — because in crypto, knowledge isn’t just power. It’s profit.