Société Générale’s digital asset arm SG-FORGE launched its euro stablecoin EUR CoinVertible on the XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) Ledger on February 18, 2026. The deployment makes XRPL the third public blockchain to host EURCV, following Ethereum in April 2023 and Solana in June 2025.
This isn’t just any token pilot as Société Générale is France’s third-largest bank with roughly $1.8 trillion in assets—6th in Europe and 18th globally—and SG-FORGE has been building regulated stablecoin infrastructure since 2023. A systemically important European bank now sees enough value in Ripple’s network to deploy its MiCA-compliant euro token there, even with the XRP price trading near $1.40, down roughly 30% in February.
What SG-FORGE Actually Built on XRPL
SG-FORGE announced the XRPL deployment on February 19, 2026, one day after the token went live. The integration uses Ripple Custody—formerly Metaco, the institutional custody platform Ripple acquired in 2023—to secure reserves and manage on-chain issuance.
EURCV is backed 1:1 by bank deposits or high-quality liquid securities, with SG-FORGE publishing daily reserve reports. The transparency framework helped EURCV become the first euro stablecoin designed specifically around MiCA’s requirements, which took effect in mid-2024.
The XRPL launch follows a SWIFT pilot conducted earlier in 2026, where EURCV was tested for the exchange and settlement of tokenized bonds alongside major banks including BNP Paribas and Intesa Sanpaolo. The trial demonstrated delivery-versus-payment flows using EURCV for on-chain settlement—a signal that SG-FORGE is positioning the token for institutional-grade settlement rails, not only DeFi liquidity.
SG-FORGE CEO Jean-Marc Stenger framed the expansion as part of a broader multi-chain strategy: “The successful launch of EUR CoinVertible on the XRP Ledger constitutes a new step that reinforces our commitment to offering next-generation compliant crypto-assets, promoting transparency, security and scalability.”
EURCV is now expected to integrate with Ripple Payments and Liquidity Hub, where it could serve as trading collateral for cross-border flows. SG-FORGE also launched a dollar-denominated version, USD CoinVertible, in June 2025—the same month EURCV expanded to Solana.
Why SG-FORGE Added XRPL to Its Multi-Chain Strategy
SG-FORGE didn’t choose XRPL over Ethereum like many initially thought—EURCV still runs on Ethereum, where it launched in April 2023. The XRPL deployment adds a third chain to a strategy designed around different use cases and client needs. XRPL settles transactions to finality in 3-5 seconds, compared to Ethereum’s 12-13 minute finality window.
For institutional settlement flows where minutes of uncertainty create operational risk, that difference matters. Transaction costs reinforce the difference: XRPL averages $0.0002 per transaction versus Ethereum’s variable gas fees, which can spike during network congestion. SG-FORGE described XRPL as a “secure and decentralized Layer 1 blockchain” with the speed and cost profile suited for institutional use. The framing signals the intended audience: regulated entities prioritizing predictable settlement over DeFi composability.
EURCV on XRPL remains restricted to onboarded institutional clients who pass SG-FORGE’s KYC/AML checks. XRPL’s native compliance features—including on-ledger metadata for transaction monitoring—align with the regulatory controls European banks require.
Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s Managing Director for UK & Europe, celebrated the launch on X: “Bringing EUR CoinVertible to the XRPL is a huge win for the ecosystem, combining institutional-grade compliance with the speed and low costs the XRPL is known for.”
The multi-chain approach serves different markets. Ethereum offers deep DeFi liquidity, Solana provides high throughput for retail-facing applications, while XRPL brings institutional settlement rails. By deploying across all three, SG-FORGE positions EURCV to serve different client segments without forcing anyone onto a single network.
Why Banks Want XRPL’s Infrastructure But Not XRP
SG-FORGE’s stablecoin doesn’t use XRP as backing, and banks deploying on XRPL aren’t required to hold the token. But institutional-grade projects built on the network raise its profile in ways that could benefit XRP indirectly—more on-ledger activity, validator interest, and potential demand for XRP as a bridge currency in cross-border flows.
The XRPL expansion comes during a concentrated burst of institutional announcements. Deutsche Bank revealed plans on February 19 to integrate Ripple’s technology for cross-border payments and FX workflows, though the bank clarified it will use Ripple’s software stack rather than adopt XRP directly. On February 11, Aviva Investors announced a partnership with Ripple to tokenize traditional funds on XRPL—Ripple’s first deal with a Europe-based asset manager and Aviva’s first move into tokenization.
These announcements contributed to XRPL climbing to #2 in 30-day RWA growth, with a 15.37% increase and roughly $1.5 billion in tokenized assets—only Arbitrum grew faster. XRPL now outpaces Solana, Polygon, and Avalanche in the real-world asset tokenization race.
The developments show European institutions are choosing XRPL for regulated asset infrastructure. Whether that translates into XRP token demand depends on how these deployments evolve—but for Ripple’s credibility as an institutional blockchain provider, February 2026 has been a breakthrough month.
The Counterarguments: Why Infrastructure Wins Don’t Guarantee XRP Price Gains
The market hasn’t celebrated these announcements as XRP dropped roughly 4% around February 18, settling near $1.42 even as the SG-FORGE and Deutsche Bank news broke. The broader crypto market remains in extreme fear territory—the Crypto Fear & Greed Index sits at 9, marking its lowest reading since the FTX collapse.
Infrastructure adoption and token demand don’t move in lockstep. Banks can deploy on XRPL, use Ripple’s software, and benefit from the network’s speed without ever touching XRP. That’s exactly what Deutsche Bank clarified in its announcement—it will use Ripple’s technology stack but will not adopt XRP directly.
Ripple’s competition is also intensifying. SWIFT announced in September 2025 that it’s building a blockchain-based shared ledger with more than 30 global banks, including JPMorgan, HSBC, and Deutsche Bank.
The system targets real-time 24/7 cross-border payments and tokenized asset settlement—the same use cases Ripple has pursued for years. If SWIFT’s rails gain traction for fiat tokens, Ripple’s infrastructure narrative faces a well-funded challenger with 11,000 member institutions already connected.
Where This Leaves Ripple
Ripple exits February 2026 with three major European institutions building on its infrastructure. It’s a validation of the institutional blockchain positioning the company has pursued for years. The network has scal;ed beyond just potential—it’s now hosting live deployments from systemically important banks.
The next test is whether these deployments generate transaction volume. If EURCV and other tokenized assets start settling real cross-border flows on XRPL, the infrastructure thesis proves out. If they sit idle, February’s wins become footnotes.
For XRP, the gap between network adoption and token demand remains. Banks want XRPL but whether that eventually matters for the XRP price is the question Ripple can’t answer alone.
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks
