Rakuten Opens Up XRP to 100 Million Japanese Users

Rakuten, a major consumer platform in Japan, has integrated XRP into its rewards and payment network. This move makes XRP available to over 100 million users, positioning it as a practical payment tool rather than just a speculative asset.

The integration allows users to convert Rakuten Points into XRP, exchange XRP for Rakuten Cash, and spend the resulting balance across various Rakuten services, including the Rakuten Pay app and Rakuten Ichiba marketplace. Masuda, a senior analyst at Rakuten Wallet, noted that this development is a significant step towards bridging rewards points, cryptocurrencies, and consumer spending.

The company emphasized that this integration differs from typical cryptocurrency listings by embedding XRP into an established consumer rewards network already widely used in Japan. This addition gives users another option to utilize accumulated loyalty points, reinforcing the connection between digital assets and the broader consumer economy.