XRP is seeing a notable surge in bullish sentiment after Rakuten Wallet introduced new XRP features for users in Japan.
Summary
Rakuten Wallet now allows users to convert loyalty points into XRP and trade the token.
XRP can be used for QR-based payments at over 5 million merchant locations across Japan.
According to Santiment, XRP has reached its second-highest level of bullish social sentiment in the past two years.
The latest update enables users to exchange Rakuten loyalty points for XRP directly through the mobile app, while also introducing spot trading and payment capabilities for the asset.
Customers can now spend XRP via QR code payments across more than 5 million merchants connected to Rakuten’s retail ecosystem, significantly expanding its real-world utility.
XRP gains access to Rakuten’s ecosystem
RippleX described the rollout as one of the largest retail integrations of XRP to date. With Rakuten Pay boasting around 44 million active users, the move gives XRP exposure to a massive consumer base.
Rakuten’s ecosystem also includes over 3 trillion loyalty points—valued at roughly $23 billion—that can now potentially be converted into XRP, further boosting adoption potential.
Social sentiment turns bullish
Data from Santiment shows that XRP’s social sentiment has climbed to its second-highest level in two years, partly driven by the Rakuten integration.
However, the firm noted that such developments don’t always lead to immediate price gains. Market reactions often follow after the initial excitement fades and speculative activity settles.
Price action remains muted
Despite the positive adoption news, XRP was trading around $1.37 at the time of writing, down 1.77% over the past 24 hours and 3.66% over the past week.
The token currently holds a market capitalization of approximately $84.4 billion, with about 62 billion coins in circulation. Santiment also pointed out that XRP’s market value has declined roughly 55% over the past nine months.
Promotional push for adoption
Rakuten Wallet is also offering incentives to early adopters. Users purchasing at least 30,000 yen worth of XRP can receive 500 yen in XRP, while those buying 100,000 yen or more are eligible for a 1,500 yen reward.
