Rakuten Wallet, the digital wallet arm of Japan's e-commerce and fintech giant Rakuten, has officially added XRP as both a tradable asset and a payment method. The integration gives its 44 million users the ability to purchase XRP directly with Rakuten Points and convert XRP into Rakuten Cash for spending at over 5 million merchant locations across Japan. Tatsuya Kohrogi, Senior Ecosystem Growth Manager at Ripple, called the development a 'game-changer,' highlighting how it brings cryptocurrency into everyday commerce at an unprecedented scale.
Key Takeaways
- Rakuten Pay's 44 million users can now buy XRP with Rakuten Points and spend XRP at more than 5 million merchant locations nationwide.
- Over 3 trillion Rakuten Points (worth approximately $23 billion) in circulation can now be converted into XRP, creating a massive on-ramp for digital assets.
- Rakuten's broader ecosystem exceeds 100 million members across e-commerce, banking, securities, and telecommunications, offering deep penetration into Japanese daily life.
XRP Integration Into Rakuten Wallet Payments Ecosystem
According to Kohrogi's announcement on social media platform X on April 13, 2026, Rakuten Wallet will launch XRP as both a listed asset and a payment method starting April 15. Users can buy XRP directly with Rakuten Points and charge their Rakuten Cash balance with XRP, enabling them to spend at any merchant that accepts Rakuten Pay. 'This isn’t a crypto-native app – it’s Japan’s everyday commerce platform, putting XRP in front of people who have never thought about crypto,' Kohrogi stated.
The Rakuten Pay network encompasses more than 5 million merchant locations, including convenience stores, supermarkets, restaurants, online retailers, and other high-frequency consumption venues. By embedding XRP into this existing infrastructure, users no longer need separate crypto wallets or exchanges to use digital assets in daily life. 'Spend XRP in the real world: 5 million+ merchant locations in Japan accept Rakuten Pay. XRP is now a spendable currency across Rakuten’s entire ecosystem. That is real-world utility at a scale rarely seen anywhere in crypto,' Kohrogi emphasized.
Why Rakuten's Ecosystem Could Drive XRP Adoption
Rakuten is one of Japan's most trusted consumer brands, with a sprawling ecosystem that includes e-commerce (Rakuten Ichiba), financial services (Rakuten Bank, Rakuten Securities), telecommunications (Rakuten Mobile), and travel (Rakuten Travel). The group boasts over 100 million registered members. Within this ecosystem, more than 3 trillion Rakuten Points have been issued, representing a stored value of roughly $23 billion. 'Points become purchasing power,' Kohrogi noted. 'Users can convert Rakuten Points directly into XRP. With 3+ trillion points issued – worth approximately $23B USD – there is a massive reservoir of value that can now flow into digital assets.'
The integration effectively turns XRP into a medium of exchange for everyday transactions, not just a speculative asset. Kohrogi further remarked: 'Rakuten is one of Japan’s most trusted consumer brands. The fact that XRP is now embedded into its loyalty and payments infrastructure is a powerful signal of where digital asset adoption is heading.' Industry observers view this move as a tangible demonstration of how traditional commerce platforms can incorporate digital assets without disrupting user experience.
Broader Implications for Crypto Markets
Japan has maintained a relatively clear regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, and Rakuten's entry further solidifies the country's position as a crypto-friendly jurisdiction. The direct linkage between a major loyalty program and a digital asset like XRP lowers the barrier for ordinary consumers to acquire and use crypto. Moreover, merchants accepting Rakuten Pay do not need to modify their point-of-sale systems, as the settlement happens on the backend – the customer experience remains identical to paying with traditional electronic money.
Ripple has been actively expanding its payment network in the Asia-Pacific region, and the Rakuten case could become a flagship reference for retail payment adoption. If Rakuten later enables cross-currency conversions or interoperability with other Japanese loyalty point alliances, XRP's use case could expand even further. For now, the integration marks one of the largest real-world implementations of a cryptocurrency as a payment method within a mainstream consumer ecosystem.