Japan’s prominent fintech firm Rakuten has taken a major step in the crypto sphere by integrating XRP into its rewards points system. Through this move, Rakuten Wallet users can now convert their accumulated Rakuten Points directly into XRP, make transactions via the app, and spend their crypto assets at more than five million merchants across the country.
Optimism on social media surges
Following this integration, data from crypto analytics platform Santiment indicates that social media enthusiasm around XRP has surged to one of its highest levels in the past two years. With Rakuten’s user base nearing 44 million and a total of $23 billion worth of points in circulation, this development has pushed XRP’s usage in retail payment systems well beyond previous benchmarks.
Investors and market participants have highlighted that this collaboration moves XRP’s legitimacy beyond just exchange trading. Many commentators believe that such large-scale integrations pave the way for cryptocurrencies to become a greater part of daily life.
Comments circulating widely on social media have labeled this as a potential ‘turning point’ for expanding the real-world utility of XRP and similar digital assets.
Despite prevailing uncertainty in the broader market, XRP’s recent move has drawn attention thanks to its high market capitalization among digital assets.
Investor outlook and price trends
Historical data suggests that while major integrations often spark rapid price gains for tokens in the short term, these are typically followed by cooling periods. Crypto market dynamics mean that after the initial excitement fades, a more cautious environment sets in, and long-term price trends tend to reflect actual on-chain usage and liquidity over time.
In the past nine months, XRP has lost roughly 55% of its value. As a result, market participants are looking for lasting and fundamental changes to drive valuation, rather than mere short-term surges triggered by news events.
Las Vegas 2026 event under the spotlight
Meanwhile, the XRP Las Vegas 2026 event, which kicked off today, has also become a focal point for the industry. Developers from the Ripple ecosystem, organizers of stablecoin projects centered on RLUSD, policymakers, and blockchain-focused startups are all gathering at this event, which is seen as a significant forum for discussing practical financial infrastructure applications of XRP.
Altogether, these developments underscore renewed market interest in XRP, fueled by the company’s expanding partnerships with major retail networks and its growing ecosystem. However, it remains unclear whether this positive momentum can translate into a sustained price rally.
