Japan's e-commerce and fintech giant Rakuten has taken a major step in bridging digital assets with everyday commerce. On April 15, 2026, Rakuten Wallet officially integrated XRP as both a listed asset and a payment method, allowing over 44 million users to buy XRP directly and convert it into Rakuten Cash for spending at more than 5 million merchants nationwide. The announcement was made by Tatsuya Kohrogi, Senior Ecosystem Growth Manager at Ripple, who called it "truly one of the most significant milestones for XRP."
Turning Loyalty Points into Digital Assets: $2.3 Billion Liquidity Unlocked
Kohrogi detailed on social media platform X how the integration works: users can now use their Rakuten Points—loyalty points earned across Rakuten's ecosystem—to purchase XRP. Conversely, XRP can be converted into Rakuten Cash and spent at any store accepting Rakuten Pay. The total value of Rakuten Points in circulation exceeds 3 trillion points, estimated to be worth approximately $2.3 billion. This massive pool of stored value, previously locked within Rakuten's own ecosystem, now serves as a gateway into digital assets. "This is a true revolution," Kohrogi emphasized. "Rakuten Points become purchasing power. Users can convert their massive point holdings directly into XRP."
Rakuten Pay, the group's payment network, is accepted at over 5 million point-of-sale terminals across Japan, including convenience stores, restaurants, and online merchants. This means XRP holders no longer need to rely on dedicated crypto wallets or exchanges for everyday purchases. Instead, they can spend XRP at familiar retail locations seamlessly. Kohrogi described this as embedding cryptocurrency into Japan's daily commercial infrastructure. Rakuten's total membership across all services surpasses 100 million, making its payment ecosystem one of the largest in the country.
Mainstream Adoption: Crypto Moves Beyond the Niche
Kohrogi stressed that the integration targets mainstream consumers, not just crypto enthusiasts. Rakuten Pay's 44 million active users include many who have never considered cryptocurrencies. "We're not launching a native crypto app," he said. "We're putting XRP into Japan's everyday commercial platform, reaching people who never thought about crypto." This approach leverages existing high-frequency use cases—payments, loyalty points, e-commerce—to drive adoption, rather than relying on standalone crypto services.
Rakuten is a rare conglomerate that owns a bank, securities firm, e-money service, payment network, and a cryptocurrency exchange (Rakuten Wallet). The company already supported Bitcoin and Ethereum on its exchange, but integrating XRP directly into the payment and points system represents a significant upgrade in utility. Kohrogi noted that this is "concrete utility at a scale rarely seen in crypto."
Japan's Crypto Payment Ecosystem Accelerates
Japan has historically been one of the most proactive regulators of digital assets, legalizing Bitcoin as a payment method as early as 2017. Major corporations have gradually embraced crypto payments; Rakuten's move further cements Japan's leadership in practical crypto adoption. While institutional interest in XRP is growing—Evernorth recently noted accelerating inflows into XRP ETFs, signaling a shift toward active institutional participation—Kohrogi emphasized that real-world use cases matter most. "XRP isn't just an investment—it's now a currency that can be spent at over 5 million merchants in Japan," he added.
The integration also carries symbolic weight: Rakuten is one of Japan's most trusted consumer brands. By embedding XRP into its loyalty and payment infrastructure, the company sends a strong signal about the direction of digital asset adoption. As Kohrogi put it, "This is a clear sign that digital assets are merging with mainstream commerce, and Japan is leading the way."