Japan Advances XRP Adoption as Settlement Asset and Payment Instrument

Japan has been making significant strides in adopting XRP as a settlement asset and payment instrument, showcasing its potential as a widely used cryptocurrency.

The 'XRP Tokyo 2026' conference highlighted the platform's capabilities as a live infrastructure for cross-border bank payments. Data presented at the event showed that these transactions were settling roughly 60% cheaper than SWIFT-based transfers and completing in under four seconds.

The integration of XRP into Rakuten's consumer payment ecosystem is another significant milestone. The platform, which has over 44 million users, now allows them to convert loyalty points directly into spendable XRP and use it at over 5 million merchants via Rakuten Pay.