Rakuten Wallet, the digital asset arm of Japan's largest consumer ecosystem, will list XRP for spot trading starting July 23. Users can convert Rakuten Points directly into XRP and spend it via Rakuten Pay at over 5 million merchants nationwide.
44 Million Users, $23 Billion Points Pool
Rakuten is Japan's equivalent of Amazon, a bank, a travel platform, a telecom operator, and a loyalty program rolled into one. Its points ecosystem holds over 3 trillion Rakuten Points, valued at roughly $23 billion. Hundreds of millions of transactions are processed monthly. Connecting XRP to this network places it inside one of Asia's most active digital commerce networks. Alongside XRP, the wallet also lists Stellar (XLM), Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Toncoin (TON). A promotional campaign offers users up to 100,000 yen in XRP rewards.
XRP's Position in Japan's Regulated Market
This integration builds on XRP's existing foothold. According to the JVCEA Green List, XRP is the third-most held digital asset in Japan's regulated exchange ecosystem, behind only Bitcoin and Ethereum. Japan's Financial Services Agency is expected to finalize a crypto reclassification framework by mid-2026, which could cut capital gains tax on digital assets from 55% to 20% — a significant boost for holding and spending XRP.
Independent Move, Not a Ripple Partnership
It is important to note: this is a Rakuten Wallet initiative. Ripple has not publicly acknowledged the move, and Rakuten has clarified it as an independent decision. Unlike standard exchange listings, this is a payment integration inside a consumer ecosystem that most Japanese already use daily — whether or not they have thought about crypto.
Starting tomorrow, 44 million users, 5 million merchants, and $23 billion in points can flow into XRP.