Ripple Secures Access to Millions as ‘Massive’ Crypto Infrastructure Partnership Extends

Ripple’s renewed custody deal with Garanti BBVA expands secure crypto storage and transfers to millions of retail banking customers, signaling that institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure is moving from pilot programs to mainstream adoption.

Ripple Secures Millions of New Users as Major Bank Renews Crypto Custody Deal

Ripple executive Reece Merrick shared on social media platform X on Jan. 22, 2026, that the company’s Turkish banking partner Garanti BBVA extended its crypto custody relationship, reinforcing an ongoing focus on secure digital asset services for a large retail audience.

“They’ll continue to leverage our custody technology to offer their millions of retail customers secure transfers and storage for major crypto assets like XRP, BTC & ETH,” he explained, emphasizing:

“This renewal is a massive vote of confidence in our joint vision for secure, compliant digital asset infrastructure.”

The post highlighted how Ripple’s custody platform remains embedded within Garanti BBVA’s digital asset offering, supporting both asset movement and long-term storage inside a regulated banking framework. By emphasizing “millions of retail customers,” Merrick highlighted the scale at which institutional custody solutions are now being deployed, indicating that crypto access through traditional banks has progressed beyond limited trials into sustained operations. The wording positioned custody as a foundational layer of adoption, framing secure infrastructure as essential rather than optional for expanding user participation.

Read more: XRP Legal Status Reaffirmed as SEC Remains Blocked From Core Security Claim

The extension builds on a broader strategy at Garanti BBVA to develop institution-grade digital asset services through external technology partnerships. Garanti BBVA Kripto, established in 2023 as a subsidiary of the bank, has collaborated with Ripple for custody services and with IBM for secure infrastructure supporting its crypto trading platform, which has served more than 14,000 users. The combined solution integrates Ripple Custody with IBM systems to protect private keys, applications, and data through encryption, isolated customer environments, hardware security modules, and governance frameworks designed to reduce single points of failure.

Following a successful pilot phase, the bank has expanded its digital asset platform across its customer base, offering services tied to assets including bitcoin, ethereum, and XRP. Industry participants view the continued use of Ripple’s custody technology as consistent with Garanti BBVA’s emphasis on performance, security, regulatory compliance, and customer trust as demand for crypto storage and transfers continues to rise.

FAQ ⏰

• Which bank extended its crypto custody partnership with Ripple?

Garanti BBVA renewed its use of Ripple Custody for regulated crypto storage and transfers.

• What assets are supported under the Ripple custody setup?

The platform supports major assets, including XRP, BTC, and ETH.

• How many users does Garanti BBVA Kripto currently serve?

The bank’s crypto trading platform has served more than 14,000 users.

• Why is Ripple Custody important for retail banking crypto adoption?

It provides secure, compliant infrastructure for large-scale retail crypto access.