Ripple Partners with Saudi Fintech Jeel to Expand Blockchain in Middle East

VADODARA, January 26, 2026 — Ripple has partnered with Saudi Arabian fintech firm Jeel. This latest crypto news signals a strategic push into Middle Eastern financial infrastructure. According to U.Today, the collaboration targets cross-border payments, digital asset custody, and tokenization.

Investigation: Ripple's Saudi Expansion via Riyad Bank Subsidiary

Reece Merrick, Ripple's Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, confirmed the partnership via his X account. Market structure suggests this is a calculated institutional move. Jeel operates as the fintech subsidiary of Riyad Bank, a major Saudi financial institution.

The partnership aims to promote blockchain adoption within Saudi Arabia's financial infrastructure. Both companies will collaborate on cross-border payments, digital asset custody, and expanding tokenization use cases. On-chain data indicates such partnerships often precede increased network activity.

Market Context & Historical Precedent

Historically, Ripple's institutional partnerships have correlated with periods of regulatory clarity or market consolidation. In contrast, this announcement arrives amid extreme global fear. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index sits at 20/100.

Underlying this trend is a broader institutional accumulation phase. Recent filings and purchases suggest large players are positioning contrarily. For instance, Strategy's $260 million Bitcoin purchase highlights this dynamic. Similarly, Bitmain's $110 million Ethereum accumulation signals institutional bets against prevailing sentiment.

, regulatory developments continue to shape the . BlackRock's Bitcoin Income ETF filing tests market structure amid the same fear environment. These events collectively point to a divergence between retail sentiment and institutional action.

Technical Architecture & Price Action

XRP currently trades at $1.91, up 0.91% in 24 hours. Market structure suggests key support at the $1.85 level, aligning with the 50-day exponential moving average. Resistance sits near $2.10, a previous order block from December 2025.

Volume profile analysis shows thinning liquidity above $2.20. A break above this level could trigger a short squeeze. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) reads 48, indicating neutral momentum. Fibonacci retracement levels from the 2024 low to the 2025 high place critical support at $1.78 (0.618 level).

According to Ethereum.org's documentation on blockchain interoperability, partnerships like this often leverage cross-chain messaging protocols. This technical integration can reduce settlement times from days to seconds.

By The Numbers

Why It Matters

This partnership matters for institutional liquidity cycles. Saudi Arabia represents a high-growth financial market with significant cross-border payment flows. Integrating Ripple's blockchain solutions could capture a portion of this volume.

Retail market structure often overlooks such strategic moves during fear periods. Consequently, this announcement may precede a re-rating of XRP's utility value. Historical cycles suggest partnerships with bank subsidiaries lead to pilot programs within 6-12 months.

Expert Commentary

"Partnerships with established financial institutions in regions like the Middle East are critical for blockchain adoption. They provide real-world use cases that drive network activity and, ultimately, asset utility. In an extreme fear environment, these strategic moves often get discounted by retail traders, creating potential valuation gaps." — CoinMarketBuzz Intelligence Desk

Market Outlook & Price Scenarios

Market structure suggests two primary scenarios based on the $1.85 support level.

• Bullish Invalidation Level: $2.10. A sustained break above this resistance with high volume confirms a trend reversal. This would target the next liquidity zone near $2.35.
• Bearish Invalidation Level: $1.85. A daily close below this support invalidates the current structure. This would likely trigger a test of the Fibonacci support at $1.78.

The 12-month institutional outlook hinges on successful pilot deployments. If Jeel integrates Ripple's solutions for cross-border payments, it could set a precedent for other Riyad Bank subsidiaries. Over a 5-year horizon, this could position XRP as a key settlement layer in Middle Eastern finance.