Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin is gaining traction with its latest listing on Gemini, another check mark in its growing footprint across financial services, education and crypto trading. As of May 2025, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin is now listed on 15 exchanges globally, across retail and institutional ecosystems.
Gemini Listing Puts RLUSD in the Mainstream
May 6, Gemini announced deposits, withdrawals and spot trading for RLUSD. They hinted at the listing with a cryptic tweet that mentioned the letters “R, L, U, S, D” which quickly went viral in the XRP community. With the listing live, Gemini is the latest major exchange to add Ripple’s US dollar backed stablecoin, joining the likes of Bitstamp, Uphold, Revolut, CoinMENA and Bullish.
The listing is a big step in getting RLUSD to more users in the stablecoin market.
From Exchanges to Classrooms: RLUSD in US Education
Beyond trading, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin is being used in a unique way to support the US education sector. On May 5th, Ripple pledged $25 million in RLUSD through partnerships with DonorsChoose and Teach For America. The initiative will fund school supplies, technology, tutoring and financial literacy programs, especially in underfunded K-12 classrooms.
Ripple announced the donation during Teacher Appreciation Week and framed it as a long-term commitment to public education. CEO Brad Garlinghouse said:
“Ripple has always championed access and we’re partnering with impactful organizations to support classrooms across the US. This is just one example of how crypto can be a force for good,” Garlinghouse said in a press release.
This is one of the first large scale philanthropic distributions done via a stablecoin, showing RLUSD’s real world use case beyond trading.
Institutional Finance: RLUSD Powers Ripple’s Hidden Road Acquisition
Ripple’s RLUSD also includes institutional grade financial infrastructure. In April, Ripple reportedly acquired Hidden Road, a London based prime brokerage platform for $1.25 billion. According to Ripple, RLUSD will be used as collateral within Hidden Road’s trading and settlement operations, further integrating the stablecoin into complex cross border financial workflows.
This move is to support Ripple Payments, Ripple’s enterprise grade settlement platform, and to increase the utility of RLUSD in interbank transfers and liquidity management. Analysts say it puts Ripple in a better position to compete with firms like Circle whose USDC stablecoin dominates the regulated cross border space.
RLUSD’s Growing Use Case Network and Regulatory Posture
Ripple is scaling RLUSD but being cautious on regulatory alignment. RLUSD is fully backed by US dollar reserves and audited monthly by an independent firm. This puts it on par with other compliant stablecoins like USDC and PayPal USD.
In a statement, Ripple said it will “support compliant innovation that drives real-world use cases in payments, philanthropy and institutional finance.”
According to Kaiko, stablecoin volumes grew 15% in Q1 2025 with RLUSD accounting for over 3% of global stablecoin market by transaction value – up from 0.6% in Q4 2024.
Conclusion: A Stablecoin Strategy Rooted in Utility
Ripple’s two pronged approach, growing RLUSD on exchanges and embedding it in education and institutional finance is a clear indicator of how stablecoins are being used. By listing on big exchanges like Gemini and backing large philanthropic efforts, Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin is becoming more than just a medium of exchange.
As the crypto space looks for assets with real impact and strong compliance frameworks, RLUSD’s growing presence will drive adoption both inside and outside the blockchain community.
FAQs
What is Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin used for?
RLUSD is a US dollar backed stablecoin issued by Ripple. It’s used for payments, trading, cross border settlements, institutional collateral and philanthropic initiatives.
Which exchanges list RLUSD?
As of May 2025, RLUSD is listed on Gemini, Bitstamp, Uphold, Bullish, CoinMENA, Revolut and several other platforms, 15 in total.
How is RLUSD different from USDC or USDT?
RLUSD is designed to be part of Ripple’s ecosystem, including Ripple Payments and institutional partnerships. Like USDC, it’s 1:1 backed by US dollars and audited regularly.
What role does RLUSD play in education?
Ripple committed $25 million in RLUSD to US educators and classrooms through DonorsChoose and Teach For America, making it the first stablecoin used in direct philanthropic aid.
Is RLUSD regulated?
Not regulated like a security but follows transparency practices, dollar reserves and third-party audits, stablecoin best practices.
Glossary
Stablecoin – A type of cryptocurrency pegged to a stable asset like the US dollar to reduce volatility.
Ripple Payments – Ripple’s enterprise payment network for instant cross border settlements.
DonorsChoose – A nonprofit platform to donate directly to public school classroom projects.
Teach For America (TFA) – A nonprofit that trains teachers to serve in under-resourced US schools.
Hidden Road – A digital prime brokerage firm acquired by Ripple to boost institutional trading infrastructure.
Collateral – Assets used as security for repayment in financial contracts, commonly used in institutional trading.
Sources
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