What to Know:
- Ripple and SBI launched RLUSD across Japan following regulatory approval.
- Japan approved RLUSD under stablecoin rules supporting enterprise digital payments.
- The partnership expands cross-border liquidity while advancing regulated blockchain adoption regionally.
Ripple and SBI have officially introduced the RLUSD stablecoin to Japan, expanding access to the regulated digital asset through SBI VC Trade. The rollout follows approval from Japan’s Financial Services Agency and advances the companies’ long-term effort to expand compliant blockchain financial services across the country.
Institutional and retail customers can now access RLUSD through SBI VC Trade’s VCTRADE platform. Additionally, the launch fulfills the roadmap outlined in the memorandum of understanding signed by Ripple and SBI in August 2025.
Japan Approves RLUSD Under Stablecoin Regulatory Framework
Japan’s Financial Services Agency approved RLUSD under the country’s Payment Services Act. The regulator classified the asset as a foreign-issued electronic payment instrument, allowing its circulation under Japan’s regulated stablecoin framework.
Ripple said the approval reflects Japan’s commitment to supporting compliant digital assets while maintaining strong consumer protections and regulatory oversight. Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, said Japan remains one of the world’s leading digital asset markets. According to McDonald, RLUSD will give businesses, financial institutions, and consumers greater access to transparent dollar-backed digital payments.
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McDonald added that RLUSD will support cross-border payments, tokenization, and collateral management. Moreover, he said the partnership with SBI will strengthen connections between Japanese businesses and global liquidity networks.
Ripple and SBI have worked together since 2016 to develop blockchain infrastructure and digital asset services across Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. Their partnership has supported several initiatives focused on enterprise blockchain adoption and cross-border payment solutions.
SBI VC Trade Chief Executive Officer Tomohiko Kondo welcomed RLUSD’s launch in Japan. According to Kondo, the stablecoin represents another milestone in the companies’ shared vision for advancing on-chain finance.
Kondo said Ripple and SBI intend to expand services built around RLUSD. Furthermore, both companies will pursue additional use cases that create greater value for businesses and retail customers.
RLUSD Expansion Strengthens Ripple’s Strategy in Asia
Ripple launched RLUSD in late 2024 as a United States dollar-backed stablecoin designed for enterprise financial applications. Since then, the stablecoin has grown to a market capitalization of approximately $1.7 billion, reflecting increasing demand for regulated digital assets.
Besides enabling faster settlements, RLUSD supports cross-border liquidity, tokenization, and collateral management across several markets. Ripple is also exploring applications involving programmable trade settlements and supply chain finance.
The official launch in Japan strengthens Ripple’s broader expansion strategy across regulated jurisdictions. Consequently, the company deepens its presence in Asia through one of the region’s most established financial services groups.
The rollout also marks another chapter in the decade-long partnership between Ripple and SBI. Together, the companies continue expanding regulated blockchain services while supporting wider adoption of compliant stablecoins across Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific market.
Conclusion
RLUSD’s arrival in Japan extends Ripple’s regulated stablecoin strategy into another major financial market. Through its partnership with SBI, the company continues expanding enterprise blockchain services while supporting broader adoption of compliant digital payment solutions across Asia.
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