Rakuten Wallet Wagers on XRP to Solve Crypto's Speed Problem

Rakuten Wallet has introduced XRP spot trading, but this move is not just about retail users. According to senior analyst Yasuo Matsuda, it's part of a broader strategy that aims to solve two long-standing problems in cryptocurrency: speed and volatility.

The issue with crypto payments, as Matsuda explains, lies in the fact that they are too slow for real commerce and too volatile to hold for even short periods. Stablecoins have solved the volatility side by pegging their value to fiat currencies, but XRP was built specifically to address the speed problem.

Matsuda argues that when combined with stablecoins, XRP can finally close the gap between crypto's technical capabilities and what businesses need for settlement. The strategy is not just about retail users, but also corporate treasury operations. Matsuda cites intercompany settlements, cross-border transfers tied to employee expenses, and B2B payments routed through Japanese accounts as underserved needs that crypto settlement rails could open up.

The liquidity of XRP is another key factor in Rakuten's decision, with its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization providing sufficient depth for remittance and settlement flows. Matsuda also notes a shift in regulatory posture, which he believes will continue to support the growth of blockchain-based real-world assets and security tokens.