Ripple has announced that its payments solution is now available in Brazil, which follows digital asset infrastructure provider’s partnership with crypto exchange Mercado Bitcoin.

According to a Ripple announcement on Oct. 3, Mercado Bitcoin will be the first platform to tap into Ripple Payments, a solution that allows businesses to benefit from faster and cheaper cross-border payments.  

Mercado Bitcoin users will also benefit from enhanced security, global access, and deeper liquidity.

Direct cross-border payments in Reais

Brazil is the first country in Latin America that the company behind XRP (XRP) has expanded the end-to-end solution to, Ripple noted.

The solution will help Mercado Bitcoin improve its treasury operations as well as bring international payments to its users. For the former, the crypto exchange targets its operations in Brazil and Portugal. Meanwhile, retail and corporate customers will also benefit from access to direct payments in Reais, the local currency.

Support for non-resident accounts makes this a possibility, the two companies said.

“Ripple Payments offers unique capabilities that are important to crypto businesses enabling them to streamline operations, optimize liquidity, and ultimately improve margins through real-time payment settlement,” Silvio Pegado, managing director of LATAM at Ripple.

Ripple’s expansion in Brazil

Ripple launched its offices in Brazil in 2019, before going on to add support for its on-demand liquidity with Travelex Bank in 2022. However, this is the first time the company is bringing its managed end-to-end solution to the market.

Notably, this product is currently unavailable to customers. The initial transactions will be institutional, with these exclusively between Mercado Bitcoin and its Portugal-based subsidiary.

Expansion of the payment solution to Brazil comes as Ripple eyes growth with its Ripple USD, a stablecoin pegged to the U.S. dollar. The company also secured in-principle approval to expand its services in the United Arab Emirates.

On the regulatory front still, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse is among those to criticize the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s decision to appeal a previous ruling in the SEC vs. Ripple legal battle.