Ripple‘s Senior Manager for the Middle East and Africa, Reece Merrick, delivered insightful commentary at the Dubai Fintech Summit held on November 2-3, 2026. The summit convened by the Dubai International Financial Centre during the Dubai Future Finance Week focused on scaling digital assets.
Corporate Adoption Takes Center Stage in Dubai
Merrick revealed on his social media account that he shared a panel with representatives from BlackRock, Standard Chartered, and Robinhood. He noted that the consensus has shifted from questioning whether institutional adoption will happen to exploring the necessary changes in financial infrastructure required to support it.
Reece Merrick conveyed that the core question now revolves around the infrastructural modifications needed to support institutional adoption, not whether it will occur.
In 2026, Ripple expanded its presence in the United Arab Emirates by establishing its Middle Eastern and African regional headquarters at the Dubai International Financial Centre. Known for developing cross-border payment infrastructure and digital asset solutions, Ripple had previously announced a collaboration with the DIFC Innovation Hub in 2024 to accelerate blockchain innovation.
Emphasizing Round-the-Clock Financial Systems
Merrick emphasized the importance of financial infrastructure that operates 24/7. He argued that the traditional market setup, limited by specific opening hours, falls short in accommodating the needs of next-generation digital asset markets that demand continuous operation for payment and settlement systems.
“In a 24/7 reality, new markets require systems that operate continuously; limited opening hours will not suffice,” stated Merrick.
This perspective highlights a period where speed, accessibility, and operational continuity become paramount, especially in tokenization and institutional digital asset transactions. As the market expands, existing financial infrastructure must adapt accordingly.
Bridging Traditional and Decentralized Finance
Merrick brought attention to enhancing the bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). He pointed out that the growth of tokenized markets would necessitate institutional-grade infrastructure, reliable custody solutions, and effective risk management systems.
Mini glossary: TradFi refers to traditional financial institutions such as banks, brokerage firms, and stock exchanges. DeFi encompasses financial applications operating without intermediaries via smart contracts.
He stressed that institutional participation on a large scale would only be possible with robust custody services and auditable risk frameworks. This approach underscores that technological advances are not the sole drivers of growth in digital asset markets; corporate security and compliance standards also play defining roles.
