Absa, a corporate and investment Bank, has launched Absa Digital Asset Custody. It is an institutional-grade platform designed to provide secure custody and management of digital assets. The newly launched platform is powered by Ripple’s custody technology. The launch marks a new step in the development of regulated digital asset infrastructure for institutional clients in Africa.
Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Senior Executive Officer and Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, announced the launch on X today. He said that the partnership with Absa CIB uses Ripple’s custody technology for secure bank-grade digital asset management.
A major milestone for institutional digital assets in Africa!
We’re proud to partner with @Absa_CIB Corporate and Investment Banking on the launch of Absa Digital Asset Custody.
By leveraging @Ripple’s custody technology, Absa is setting a new benchmark for secure, compliant,… https://t.co/ILo9DcQ1PD
— Reece Merrick (@reece_merrick) September 21, 2026
Absa Digital Asset Custody Targets Institutional Clients
As per the available information, the new platform is exclusively designed for corporate and institutional clients. Institutional clients seek secure infrastructure for holding digital assets. To match this requirement, Absa has incorporated safety features like private-key management, transaction and approval controls, audit trails, and compliance frameworks.
Absa claims that the service is more of a custody platform rather than a trading venue. The offering is intended to address institutional requirements. These requirements revolve around security, governance, operational controls, and regulatory compliance when managing digital assets.
Looking back, the launch follows a strategic partnership between Absa and Ripple. Their earlier collaboration was announced in October 2025. Back then, Absa was Ripple’s first major custody partner in Africa.
Under the partnership, Absa combines Ripple’s institutional custody technology with its own banking infrastructure. Ripple’s technology supports exclusive functions such as blockchain transaction broadcasting. Meanwhile, Absa provides the banking framework, governance, and client-facing controls.
Ripple and Absa Expand Regulated Digital Asset Infrastructure
In the announcement, Absa CIB has emphasized the need to meet security and operational standards. The custody service is meant to give institutional clients greater control and oversight as digital assets attract more attacks. The launch also adds to Ripple’s broader institutional custody network across regions including Europe, the Middle East, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.
Absa is already serving numerous corporate and institutional clients across several African markets. Today’s launch of custody service highlights the bank’s broader digital asset infrastructure strategy.