‘Rakuten Wallet Adds XRP, Expanding Crypto Access for 44 Million Users’
April 16, 2026
he integration of XRP into Rakuten’s payments and loyalty network in Japan marks a significant milestone in expanding the accessibility of digital assets to consumers. This move allows 44 million users to purchase XRP and use it for transactions at over 5 million merchants. By enabling users to convert Rakuten Points into XRP, the platform unlocks approximately $23 billion in stored value, providing a substantial on-ramp for XRP adoption.
Ripple’s Senior Ecosystem Growth Manager, Tatsuya Kohrogi, emphasized the importance of this integration, highlighting how it brings XRP into mainstream commerce through Rakuten’s extensive consumer payments ecosystem. The launch of XRP as both a listed asset and a payment method on Rakuten Wallet signifies a significant step towards integrating digital assets into daily spending habits. By allowing users to charge their Rakuten Cash with XRP and use it at millions of merchant locations, this development opens up new possibilities for crypto utility in everyday transactions.
The broad reach of Rakuten’s ecosystem, with over 100 million members and a vast amount of e-commerce activity, provides a strong foundation for driving XRP adoption. With millions of merchant locations accepting Rakuten Pay, the integration of XRP offers users the ability to utilize digital assets within familiar retail payment experiences, eliminating the need for separate crypto-native tools. This real-world utility at a large scale signifies a shift towards embedding digital assets into existing consumer platforms with established trust and daily usage, like Rakuten.
The ability to convert Rakuten Points directly into XRP taps into a reservoir of value within the ecosystem, further facilitating the flow of funds into digital assets. With billions of dollars’ worth of points in circulation, users now have a seamless pathway to engage with XRP through their regular Rakuten transactions. Moreover, the integration of XRP into Rakuten’s loyalty and payments infrastructure underscores the growing trend of digital asset adoption within mainstream consumer brands, signaling a broader shift towards incorporating crypto into everyday financial processes.
Overall, the collaboration between XRP and Rakuten represents a significant development in expanding the accessibility and utility of digital assets in everyday commerce. By leveraging the extensive reach and trust of Rakuten’s ecosystem, this integration paves the way for a new wave of consumers to engage with cryptocurrencies, highlighting the potential for broader adoption and integration of digital assets into existing payment systems.
