XRP has gained another utility channel in Japan through Rakuten's digital financial ecosystem. Users can purchase XRP with Rakuten Points and convert their holdings into Rakuten Cash, connecting the asset to services across one of Japan's largest digital ecosystems. Rakuten officially reports more than 100 million members across the country. Japan has also been one of XRP's most active retail markets, with the asset regularly ranking among the most-traded tokens on Japanese exchanges.

The development came as XRP traded around $1.06 after testing the $1 support level, with selling pressure on Binance remaining a risk for the short-term price outlook.

Rakuten Connects XRP With Everyday Payments

Rakuten Wallet has linked XRP with services that support routine consumer payments in Japan. Customers can use Rakuten Points to purchase XRP through the company's crypto platform, and they can convert XRP holdings into Rakuten Cash, spending that balance through supported Rakuten payment channels.

The setup gives XRP holders a route from crypto ownership to purchases within Rakuten's broader ecosystem. Rakuten Cash works across participating merchants and the company's online shopping services. Rakuten has more than 100 million member IDs in Japan, while Rakuten Pay serves tens of millions of users. Rakuten Pay is one of the main competitors in the country's QR-code payment market, where PayPay holds the largest user base.

Yasuo Matsuda, senior analyst at Rakuten Wallet, discussed the payment structure during Ripple's Onchain Economy program. Ripple's engagement with Japanese financial firms dates back years, including its SBI Ripple Asia joint venture with SBI Holdings, formed in 2016. He said customers had requested spot XRP trading after the platform had already offered margin trading. Rakuten Wallet introduced XRP margin trading in 2020 and later expanded its spot crypto offering, adding XRP to its spot trading lineup in April 2026. Rakuten Wallet grew out of Rakuten's acquisition of the Japanese exchange Everybody's Bitcoin, announced in 2018, and operates under Japan's Payment Services Act, which requires crypto exchanges to register with the Financial Services Agency.

Points, Wallet, and Cash in a Single Loop

Rakuten's service combines Rakuten Points, Rakuten Wallet, and Rakuten Cash. That structure allows customers to move loyalty value into XRP and later move XRP into a spendable balance, letting users interact with the asset through services they may already use for shopping and payments.

Matsuda also pointed to transaction speed when discussing XRP's payment role. Ripple says XRP transactions settle within seconds, with the asset designed for payments and liquidity functions. Stablecoins can serve another role by reducing exposure to the price swings associated with crypto assets. Japan put a regulatory framework for stablecoins in place in 2023, defining how such tokens can be issued and handled in the country.

He further discussed tokenized real-world assets and security tokens as other areas for blockchain-based financial activity. Financial companies have explored on-chain products, trading infrastructure, and tokenized assets. Japan has been an active market for this work, with major domestic banks and brokerages running tokenization pilots in recent years.

XRP Tests $1 as Selling Pressure Builds

The Rakuten development arrived while XRP remained under technical pressure. XRP traded near $1.06 on Aug. 13 after approaching the psychological $1 level, an area that remains central to the token's immediate technical structure.

CryptoQuant data showed the Binance Taker Buy/Sell ratio below one during the reported period. The indicator compares taker buying volume against taker selling volume, and a reading below one indicates greater taker sell volume during that measurement period. The indicator alone does not establish the direction of XRP's next move.

XRP also remained near support following its latest decline. Losing $1 on a sustained closing basis could weaken its existing technical structure, while holding the psychological level would keep attention on whether buyers can absorb current selling pressure.

The Rakuten development provides a separate fundamental consideration. Its effect on XRP demand cannot yet be quantified from available transaction data, and greater accessibility does not automatically translate into higher XRP transaction volumes or prices.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency markets are highly volatile. Readers should conduct independent research or consult a licensed financial professional before making investment decisions.

Source: The Market Periodical