A major expansion in Asia is putting the XRP back in the spotlight. On Tuesday, Rakuten (RKUNF) Wallet announced it will add XRP (XRP-USD) for spot trading starting tomorrow. This move connects the token to the largest loyalty and payments network in Japan, giving millions of consumers a new way to interact with crypto.
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Rakuten Points Create a Crypto On-Ramp
The integration allows users to move value between traditional rewards and digital assets without needing a bank deposit. This system turns existing loyalty points into a direct gateway for crypto ownership.
Starting April 15, users can convert their Rakuten Points directly into XRP. These points are part of a massive ecosystem that has issued over 3 trillion points, worth about $23 billion. This unique transition phrase leads us to the fact that the token is now linked to Rakuten Pay, which serves roughly 44 million users. This setup lets people charge their XRP into “Rakuten Cash” to spend at more than 5 million merchant locations across Japan. Bloomberg notes that this is one of the widest retail uses for crypto in a regulated market to date.
XRP’s Technical Hurdles Limit Price Growth
Even with this massive retail news, the market remains cautious. The price of XRP has been stuck in a specific trading pattern since February, and it has yet to prove it can stay above key levels.
The token currently faces a bearish chart pattern known as a descending triangle. To show a real recovery, the price needs to close above $1.43 on the daily chart. If it fails to break this ceiling, it could fall back toward support levels near $1.29. Traders are keeping a close eye on these numbers to see if the Japanese expansion provides enough buying pressure to flip the trend.
Rakuten’s Reward Programs Boost Early Adoption
Rakuten is using financial incentives to ensure the launch gains immediate traction. The company is offering direct rewards to help convert its massive user base into active crypto holders.
To celebrate the listing, Rakuten Wallet is running a campaign that offers up to ¥100,000 in rewards for users who make qualifying purchases through mid-May. While the technical charts show resistance, the sheer scale of the 44 million user base provides a fundamental floor that few other tokens can claim. Whether this translates into a permanent price breakout will depend on how many shoppers actually start using XRP for their daily coffee and groceries.
At the time of writing, XRP’s price is sitting at $1.3787.
