Distributed ledger startup Ripple has signed up nine additional users for its global payments network product, RippleNet.
Announced today, new members include Bexs Banco de Cambio, a processing service for international payments, and local, the payment service behind Uber and GoDaddy. The other firms joining the network's now 100-plus members include Credit Agricole, Currencies Direct, IFX, TransferGo, Cuallix, Krungsri, and Rakbank.
In statements, Ripple was keen to position the group as not simply another blockchain consortium, saying its clients are successfully moving toward live implementations of products that can have a real business impact.
For example, Ripple also revealed that financial services firm Cuallix will be the first partner to convert cross-border fund transfers into Ripple's native currency XRP. Specifically, the company plans use the token for fund transfers between the U.S. and Mexico to reduce processing costs, the release states.
"Global payments are undeniably going through a sea change, led by financial institutions adopting blockchain to fix their customers' broken payments experience," said Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, in statements.
The new members join at a time when Ripple is actively pursuing high-profile partnerships with leading financial institutions worldwide while taking a more aggressive stance to differentiate its products and services