Ripple’s London office has become the company’s largest international hub outside the United States and is currently operating over capacity, according to Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s UK and Europe Managing Director.
Craddock detailed the growth trajectory during a fireside chat at the British Residence in New York, held as part of Ripple’s Swell conference. She noted that when the company moved into its current office in 2018, it occupied two floors with significant empty space. The facility now spans three floors, with all desks filled.
“When we moved into our current office in 2018, there were 2 floors, and a lot of empty desks. Now we’re on 3 floors and full on all the desks. We’re now over capacity,” Craddock wrote on X.
Regulatory Clarity Unlocks Institutional Ties
Craddock explained that Ripple selected London for its early expansion due to the UK’s strong capital markets, mature legal system, experienced regulators, and concentration of financial talent. However, she acknowledged that regulatory uncertainty previously constrained the company’s ability to build relationships with leading UK financial institutions.
The company’s presence in the UK dates back to March 21, 2016, when Ripple announced the launch of its first London office in Canary Wharf. The initial move was intended to address growing interest among European banks in distributed ledger technology and cross-border settlement solutions. Ripple incorporated its UK entity in April 2016 as Ripple Europe Ltd., a name that was changed to Ripple Markets UK Ltd. in August 2022.
Regulatory milestones have since facilitated deeper integration with the UK financial sector. On January 9, Ripple received an Electronic Money Institution license and cryptoasset registration from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). These authorizations enabled Ripple to extend its regulated cross-border payment services to UK institutions, removing previous barriers to formal partnerships.
Partnerships and Tokenization Milestones
Ripple has established several key partnerships with UK-based financial entities over the past decade. In April 2018, Santander introduced its international payments app, One Pay FX, which utilized Ripple’s xCurrent technology. In February 2022, Ripple announced a partnership with London-based payments company Modulr to facilitate cross-border payments to the UK and Europe.
The company has also invested in the UK research landscape. In January 2026, Ripple pledged more than £5 million to UK universities under its University Blockchain Research Initiative.
Recent developments have focused on asset tokenization. In February, Ripple secured a partnership with Aviva Investors to explore the tokenization of traditional investment funds. This collaboration resulted in the launch of a tokenized share class of Aviva Investors’ £22 billion Sterling Liquidity Fund on the XRP Ledger on October 26.
Frequently Asked Questions
How large is Ripple’s London office compared to 2018?
Ripple’s London office expanded from two floors with empty desks in 2018 to three fully occupied floors, with the company now reporting it is over capacity.
What regulatory licenses did Ripple receive from the FCA?
Ripple received an Electronic Money Institution license and cryptoasset registration from the Financial Conduct Authority on January 9.
