Key Takeaways:
Ripple and Stellar have been named to FXC Intelligence's 2026 Top 100 Cross-Border Payments Companies list, placing them alongside Visa, Barclays and PayPal.
Ripple and Stellar secured spots on FXC Intelligence's 2026 Top 100 Cross-Border Payments Companies list, ranking alongside Visa, Barclays and PayPal in a milestone for blockchain-based settlement.
"This is not a crypto-focused ranking — FXC Intelligence's list sits firmly in the global payments industry," technical analyst AllInCrypto said, noting the inclusion of long-established infrastructure players such as SWIFT, Bank of America and Deutsche Bank.
The list features Ripple's XRP, which traded at $1.32 with a market capitalization of $81.8 billion as of May 28, and Stellar's XLM, which hit a four-month high earlier in May after the DTCC selected the blockchain for tokenizing stocks and ETFs. Both networks appear alongside crypto firms Circle, Coinbase, Binance and Tether, as well as traditional payments processors.
The inclusion shows blockchain networks are being evaluated as operational payment infrastructure rather than experimental technology, with tokenization strategies increasingly spanning multiple networks selected based on compliance requirements and settlement efficiency.
Ripple's inclusion reinforces its institutional cross-border settlement focus, particularly its On-Demand Liquidity product used by financial institutions across Asia, the Middle East and Latin America for real-time settlements. The resolution of Ripple's legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission cleared the path for broader banking adoption, and the token now has several spot ETFs approved in multiple jurisdictions.
Stellar leans into low-cost transfers and financial access, especially in emerging markets where remittances remain a central use case. The network's partnerships with money transfer operators and fintech companies targeting underbanked populations have driven its adoption in regions with limited traditional banking infrastructure.
The broader FXC list reflects a payments industry in transition, where digital asset infrastructure is increasingly embedded within existing financial rails. Alongside crypto firms such as Circle and Tether, the index remains anchored by traditional banking and payments giants, illustrating how blended the sector has become.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
