Ripple Expands European Banking Reach With BBVA Partnership in Spain

Ripple is strengthening its footprint in Europe’s financial sector through a new partnership with Spanish banking giant BBVA, which will integrate Ripple’s digital asset custody technology into its retail offering.

The service will enable customers to trade and securely store bitcoin (BTC) and ether (ETH) directly through the bank.

The announcement comes as European lenders accelerate their digital asset strategies under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which provides regulatory clarity for institutions offering crypto services across the bloc.

“Now that MiCA is established, the region’s banks are emboldened to launch the digital asset offerings that their customers are asking for,” said Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s managing director for Europe.

Building on Metaco’s Foundation

Ripple Custody, formed after Ripple’s acquisition of Swiss crypto custody specialist Metaco, is central to the deal. Metaco had already partnered with BBVA prior to the buyout, making the Spanish integration a natural extension of that relationship.

According to Francisco Maroto, BBVA’s head of digital assets, the integration allows the bank to deliver an “end-to-end custody service” with the security and trust expected from a major financial institution.

Ripple’s Expanding Network

The partnership builds on BBVA’s existing crypto services in Switzerland and Turkey, where it already leverages Ripple’s custody infrastructure. With Spain now on board, Ripple secures another foothold in Europe’s increasingly regulated market. Globally, Ripple boasts more than 60 regulatory licenses, underscoring its push to bridge the gap between digital assets and traditional finance.

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Banks Shift Toward In-House Crypto Solutions

The deal also reflects a broader industry trend. Instead of outsourcing digital asset services to third parties, major banks are now adopting established providers like Ripple to build in-house custody and trading platforms. For institutions such as BBVA, the move not only enhances customer trust but also positions them competitively in a fast-regulating financial landscape.

Ripple’s latest European expansion highlights how traditional banking is evolving, merging regulatory compliance with blockchain-powered infrastructure to meet growing client demand.