In a major step toward mainstream adoption, Ripple has partnered with AEON, a digital asset infrastructure provider, to integrate XRP and Ripple USD (RLUSD) into AEON’s global payment network. The partnership will initially allow users to make payments with these digital assets across 20 million merchants in Southeast Asia, with expansion plans targeting Africa, Latin America, and other developing regions.
Started on June 24, AEON confirmed that it has teamed up with Ripple to enable real-time transactions using XRP and RLUSD on AEON Pay, its Web3 mobile payment platform. This collaboration introduces Ripple’s blockchain-based payment technology to one of the broadest merchant networks ever seen in the digital asset space.
“Initially, this will empower offline payments across 20 million merchants in Southeast Asia at 10,000+ consumer brands like UNIQLO, McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Starbucks,” AEON stated in its press release. The company also highlighted its future rollout plans for high-growth markets including Africa and Latin America.
The integration brings together two powerful digital assets:
XRP, known for its high speed and low transaction costs, is ideal for retail and cross-border payments.
RLUSD, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Standard Custody & Trust Company (a Ripple Labs subsidiary), is designed for compliance and enterprise-grade use.
Together, these assets are set to transform AEON’s payment ecosystem, making cryptocurrency spending more accessible in everyday retail scenarios. AEON Pay now supports these tokens in both online and offline environments, creating a seamless experience for users.
Transactions with XRP and RLUSD can now be conducted through the AEON Pay Telegram Mini App, as well as decentralized wallet apps like Bitget Wallet and TokenPocket. These apps support quick, secure crypto transactions without the complexity often associated with traditional blockchain platforms.
AEON’s payment system is powered by AI-enabled omni-chain architecture, which intelligently manages crypto transactions across various blockchains. This smart routing enables real-time processing, automatic conversions, and user-friendly interfaces—key for onboarding both merchants and consumers.
While Southeast Asia is the starting point, AEON’s partnership with Ripple is focused on scaling adoption across developing economies. Markets in Africa and Latin America have shown strong interest in crypto payment solutions due to inflation, limited access to banking services, and growing mobile adoption.
By targeting these regions, AEON and Ripple aim to bridge the gap between traditional finance and decentralized digital economies.
This initiative is one of the largest real-world implementations of XRP to date, marking a significant shift toward practical use cases for cryptocurrencies beyond speculation. It also gives RLUSD its first large-scale test in retail environments, where speed, compliance, and user experience are critical.
Critics often point to stablecoins as being too centralized to align with the decentralized vision of crypto. However, this integration balances decentralized XRP infrastructure with the regulatory reliability of RLUSD, offering a blend of security and flexibility that may appeal to governments, institutions, and users alike.
Ripple has consistently emphasized real-world utility as its long-term vision for digital assets. This partnership fits squarely into that strategy, demonstrating how blockchain and crypto can improve payment infrastructure on a global scale.
By enabling faster, cheaper, and more accessible payments, Ripple and AEON are showing that cryptocurrency is evolving beyond hype and into practical financial solutions—especially for underserved markets.
With XRP and RLUSD now integrated into AEON’s network of 20 million merchants, the crypto industry moves closer to mainstream, real-world usage. As expansion continues into Africa, Latin America, and beyond, the collaboration between Ripple and AEON could serve as a blueprint for scalable crypto adoption in the global economy.
Investors, users, and merchants alike will be watching closely as this ambitious rollout unfolds—potentially setting the stage for a new era of Web3-powered retail payments.
A finance graduate, Maheen Hernandez has been drawn to cryptocurrencies ever since Bitcoin first emerged in 2009. Nearly a decade later, Maheen is actively working to spread awareness about cryptocurrencies as well as their impact on the traditional currencies. Appreciate the work? Send a tip to: 0x75395Ea9a42d2742E8d0C798068DeF3590C5Faa5
Get the latest Crypto & Blockchain News in your inbox.
Join Now