The integration of cryptos into daily uses takes on a new dimension with the entry on the scene of an e-commerce heavyweight. In Japan, Rakuten is preparing to connect 44 million users to XRP, by integrating it directly into its payment application. Behind this announcement, a concrete development is taking shape: crypto is no longer limited to investment, it is part of the real economy. Payment, trading and loyalty programs are now converging in the same environment, signaling a turning point in mainstream adoption.
In brief
- Rakuten opens its payment application to XRP, allowing 44 million users to access crypto on a daily basis.
- Users can now pay in XRP, make spot transactions, and convert their loyalty points to crypto.
- This integration connects payment, trading and loyalty program in a single digital ecosystem.
- Rakuten simplifies access to cryptos by integrating them directly into an application already used on a daily basis.
Rakuten opens its payment network to XRP
As the volume of payments on the XRP network falls by 77%, Rakuten is preparing to integrate crypto as a means of payment within its Rakuten Pay application, a platform which has 44 million users.
According to the information published, the latter will be able to “perform spot transactions in XRP and use it as payment via the Rakuten Pay app”confirming the arrival of the token in concrete use within a general public ecosystem.
In detail, this integration is based on several key features :
- Using XRP to settle payments directly through Rakuten Pay;
- The ability to trade XRP spot from the application;
- A conversion of Rakuten loyalty points to XRP.
This device marks a notable evolution in the Japanese group's strategy, which connects its rewards system to a crypto asset, while integrating it into an already widely adopted payment environment.
A convergence between loyalty, trading and crypto
The integration of XRP into Rakuten Pay goes beyond a simple functional addition. Thus, it is accompanied by the ability to directly exchange the token in the application, offering users a unified experience between payment and investment. Users will be able to “transact XRP spot transactions via the Rakuten Pay app”which positions the platform as a hybrid entry point between fintech and crypto.
This initiative is part of a general dynamic where platforms seek to enrich their ecosystem by further internalizing financial services. By linking trading and payment in the same interface, Rakuten simplifies access to crypto for a public potentially unfamiliar with traditional exchanges. The integration of Ripple's crypto into an environment already used on a daily basis could thus accelerate its adoption among an uninitiated public.
In the medium term, this development raises questions about the transformation of digital uses. The combination of loyalty programs and blockchain assets could redefine the value of points accumulated by consumers, providing them with increased liquidity and transferability. If other major players follow this path, the model could extend well beyond Japan and help anchor cryptos in common uses, in particular XRP, far from their initial image centered on speculation.
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