Ripple and SBI launch RLUSD in Japan after JFSA approval
By Olivia Stephanie from crypto.news
Ripple and SBI Group have launched Ripple USD, known as RLUSD, in Japan after approval from the Japan Financial Services Agency.
Ripple targets payments and tokenization
Ripple has positioned RLUSD as a dollar stablecoin for payments, tokenized assets, and collateral use. The company said RLUSD has reached $1.7 billion in market value since its late 2024 launch.
Jack McDonald, Ripple’s senior vice president of stablecoins, said the launch expands access to “transparent, regulated USD-backed stablecoins” in Japan. He also said RLUSD can support payments, tokenization, and collateral management for businesses and users.
SBI VC Trade CEO Tomohiko Kondo called the rollout a “major milestone” in the long partnership between Ripple and SBI Group. He said the companies plan to expand services around RLUSD and develop more use cases for customers.
Global rollout reaches Japan
The Japan launch comes as Ripple continues to push RLUSD across markets and networks. As previously reported, Ripple made RLUSD available to institutions in Türkiye through BiLira, Bitexen, and Bitlo earlier in June.
Previously, crypto.news explored RLUSD’s expansion across more than 40 blockchain networks through Wormhole’s Native Token Transfers framework. That rollout moved RLUSD beyond its initial support on XRP Ledger and Ethereum, adding access through several Ethereum layer-2 networks.
In a previous article, crypto.news discussed Ripple’s role in tokenized finance after a tokenized Treasury settlement test on XRP Ledger. RLUSD served as part of the cash settlement layer in that broader institutional setup.
Japan has built a clear legal path for stablecoins through its Payment Services Act. That framework has attracted global issuers seeking regulated access to the market.
For Ripple, the launch adds another country to RLUSD’s global distribution map. For SBI Group, it adds a dollar stablecoin product to a platform that already serves Japanese crypto users.
The launch also extends a relationship that began in 2016, when Ripple and SBI started working on digital asset and blockchain-based finance in Japan and Asia-Pacific. Their latest step focuses on regulated stablecoin access rather than only cross-border payment rails.
RLUSD’s next test will depend on adoption from Japanese users, institutions, and businesses. The stablecoin enters Japan with regulatory approval, but usage will depend on liquidity, pricing, and demand for dollar-based digital settlement.
Source : https://crypto.news/ripple-and-sbi-launch-rlusd-in-japan-after-jfsa-approval/
