04/18/2026
Rakuten Japan has begin accepting XRP into its payment ecosystem effective April 14, 2026, allowing Rakuten Pay’s 44 million users to spend XRP directly at more than 5 million merchants across Japan. The rollout also enables conversion of Rakuten Points valued at over $23 billion into XRP, expanding utility beyond speculation into everyday transactions.
This marks one of the largest regulated crypto payment adoptions in Asia, positioning XRP as both a loyalty conversion tool and a standalone payment currency. The move strengthens Ripple’s footprint in Japan and signals growing acceptance of digital assets in consumer payments.