A major update from Japan is putting $XRP back in the spotlight, as Rakuten Wallet rolls out a large-scale integration that could bring crypto into everyday payments. According to reports, starting April 15, 2026, Rakuten Wallet will support $XRP not just for trading, but as a payment method. Users can convert Rakuten Points into $XRP and load it into Rakuten Cash for spending via Rakuten Pay.
This effectively plugs $XRP into one of Japan’s most widely used consumer platforms, bringing it closer to real-world usage beyond just exchanges.
44 Million Users, 5 Million Merchants
This is important because:
- 100 million+ Rakuten members globally
- 44 million Rakuten Pay active users
- 3+ trillion loyalty points worth approximately $23 billion USD are now convertible to $XRP
- 5.6 trillion yen in annual e-commerce volume flowing through the platform
- 5 million+ merchants where $XRP can now be spent as real currency
Going into detail, Rakuten Pay has over 44 million users, while the broader ecosystem includes 100 million+ members.
5 million+ merchant locations accept Rakuten Pay, meaning $XRP could now be used in everyday transactions.
On top of that, Rakuten’s loyalty system holds over 3 trillion points (around $23 billion), which can now flow into $XRP, opening a huge potential demand pipeline.
Community Reaction — Excitement and Questions
The update sparked reactions across the crypto community. Crypto lawyer Bill Morgan summed it up simply, this is a clear expansion of $XRP’s utility. That’s been a long-standing narrative around $XRP, and this integration gives it real-world backing.
Some users called it a “huge use case,” highlighting how rare it is to see crypto integrated in this massive way in real commerce.
At the same time, others questioned why Ripple and its executives hadn’t publicly acknowledged the move yet. This led to speculation about whether it was an official partnership or just early-stage rollout news.
Tats responded by clarifying that this is a Rakuten Wallet initiative, not a direct Ripple service integration. He also hinted that more updates and content are on the way, asking the community for patience.
