A European banking milestone for blockchain payments
AMINA Bank, a regulated Swiss crypto bank, has officially become the first European bank to go live with Ripple Payments. This integration creates a direct link between traditional banking systems and blockchain infrastructure. The partnership builds on AMINA’s earlier adoption of Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, and offers crypto-native clients a more efficient way to move funds internationally.
I think this is significant because, for years, crypto companies have faced challenges working with traditional banking networks. Stablecoin transfers and global settlements often created friction that legacy systems weren’t designed to handle. Myles Harrison, AMINA’s Chief Product Officer, pointed out that correspondent banking systems simply weren’t built for digital assets.
How the integration changes cross-border transactions
By connecting directly to Ripple’s licensed infrastructure, AMINA can now route transactions through both fiat and stablecoin channels simultaneously. This means funds move faster, costs decrease, and transparency improves across borders. Harrison believes this gives AMINA’s clients a competitive advantage as web3 businesses expand globally.
Perhaps what’s interesting is that Ripple Payments already handles more than $95 billion in processed volume and covers over 90% of global foreign exchange corridors. With AMINA now live, Ripple’s European presence strengthens significantly.
The regulatory context and broader implications
AMINA Bank has been growing steadily since receiving its FINMA banking license in 2019. This year, the bank added regulatory approvals in Hong Kong and the EU under MiCA regulations. The Ripple integration layers payments infrastructure on top of these licenses, creating what might be one of Europe’s most advanced crypto-banking stacks.
Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s Managing Director for the UK and Europe, described AMINA as an “on-ramp” for innovators needing access to traditional financial infrastructure. She emphasized that Ripple’s technology helps banks support multi-currency payouts and stablecoin operations within a compliant framework.
For crypto companies, this partnership means fewer delays, fewer intermediaries, and faster access to liquidity. As these businesses expand across borders, such integrations are becoming essential rather than optional. Ripple and AMINA appear to be setting a new standard for how banks can support digital assets as a core part of modern financial services, not just as a side feature.
The timing seems right too, with MiCA regulations creating clearer pathways for licensed digital asset activity across Europe. This partnership shows how blockchain technology can integrate with regulated banking without compromising compliance or reliability.
