'Welcome to the Party': Ripple Exec Reacts to Coinbase UAE Entry

Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available. Read U.TODAY on Google News Reece Merrick, Ripple Senior Executive Officer and Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, reacts to Coinbase's UAE expansion. "Welcome to the party," Merrick said in response to the Coinbase CEO, who informed of the company's move in the UAE. Advertisement Coinbase is the largest U.S.-based crypto exchange with over 120 million users and boasts of over 245,000 ecosystem partners across more than 100 countries of the world. In a recent tweet, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said of having wrapped up a great trip in the UAE, with a presence at Abu Dhabi Finance Week. HOT Stories Morning Crypto Report: World's Highest IQ Holder Turns to XRP, Cardano on the Verge of 40% Surge, Shiba Inu (SHIB) Loses $110 Million in Just 24 Hours Schiff Jumps on Saylor's McDonald's Pic Crypto Market Prediction: XRP's Engines Are Hot Enough for a Rally, Ethereum (ETH): One More Price Surge Attempt, Shiba Inu (SHIB) Does Not Want to Stop at $0.000008 Important Date for XRP Holders Revealed, Bitcoin OG Bets $392 Million on Ethereum, Dogecoin Jumps 61% in Volume — Crypto News Digest Welcome to the party @brian_armstrong I’ve been saying (to anyone who will listen) that the UAE is serious about becoming the crypto capital of the world 🌍 @Ripple aren’t new to the market here. We’ve been here for seven and I have personally been here for over four! I’m… https://t.co/VBiGHfrkKO — Reece Merrick (@reece_merrick) December 14, 2025 Armstrong shared his observation about the Middle East country, saying the UAE is all-in on crypto. The Coinbase CEO added that UAE has become the second crypto capital of the world, along with the U.S. Advertisement The Coinbase CEO's tweet caught the attention of Ripple executive Reece Merrick, who voiced his agreement with Armstrong's perspective about the UAE. Merrick reiterated his long-held view that the UAE is serious about becoming the crypto capital of the world. Advertisement Amid this new crypto evolution, Merrick said Ripple is not new to the market as the company planned its expansion outside the U.S. years back. Merrick mentioned that Ripple has been in the UAE and the Middle East for over seven years now, while he had been there for over four years. Ripple executive highlights remarkable progress The Ripple exec highlights remarkable progress made in the last seven years of Ripple's presence in the UAE, saying, "I’m excited about the progression we’ve already made." In October, Ripple announced its strategic partnership with Bahrain Fintech Bay (BFB) to further accelerate the development and adoption of blockchain and digital assets technology in Bahrain. The move extends Ripple’s presence in the Middle East, building on Dubai regulatory license secured earlier this year. Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin was also recently approved for use as lending collateral within Abu Dhabi's ADGlobalMarket. Merrick added that not only is he excited for the progress made so far, he is more excited about what is to come as seen in the domination across all of Ripple products. #Ripple News #UAE #Brian Armstrong