In today’s crypto news, Ripple has officially launched its RLUSD stablecoin in Japan after securing approval from the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA). The rollout marks a major milestone for Ripple’s stablecoin strategy.
It makes RLUSD available to both institutional and retail users through SBI VC Trade’s VCTRADE platform. At the time of the announcement, RLUSD had grown to a market capitalization of $1.59 billion per RWA.xyz.
RLUSD Officially Enters the Japanese Market
Ripple announced that the JFSA has approved RLUSD as a new type of electronic payment instrument under Japan’s Payment Services Act. The approval allows SBI VC Trade, a licensed Electronic Payment Instruments Exchange Service Provider, to offer the dollar-backed stablecoin through its VCTRADE platform. Both institutional and retail customers will be able to access RLUSD for payments, tokenization, and collateral management.
The launch fulfills a strategic vision that Ripple and SBI Group first outlined when they signed their memorandum of understanding in 2025. Ripple said the move represents an important step toward expanding access to transparent, regulated USD-backed stablecoins in Japan. This is especially significant as the country has one of the world’s clearest regulatory frameworks and fastest-growing digital asset ecosystems.
SBI VC Trade CEO Tomohiko Kondo described the launch as another milestone in the long-standing collaboration of the companies to advance digital finance. Ripple Senior Vice President of Stablecoins Jack McDonald added that RLUSD will connect Japanese businesses and consumers with global liquidity. He added that the stablecoin will support financial applications focused on tokenization and cross-border payments.
Notably, SBI VC Trade confirmed it will only receive deposits and withdrawals of RLUSD on Ethereum, sidelining the XRP Ledger. The firm plans to gradually add support for other chains. Additionally, the single transaction limit for RLUSD on VCTRADE is $6,200 (approximately 1 million yen).
Ripple Strengthens Its Stablecoin Strategy Across Asia
Japan represents one of Ripple’s most significant international markets, making the RLUSD launch particularly important for the company’s broader expansion strategy. Ripple and SBI Group have collaborated for nearly ten years on blockchain payments and digital asset initiatives. The RLUSD launch extends that relationship into the regulated stablecoin market.
The launch also reflects the growing role of regulated stablecoins in global finance. Unlike many digital assets designed primarily for trading, RLUSD is intended for enterprise use cases, including cross-border settlements, treasury management, tokenized real-world assets, and collateral management. Financial institutions are increasingly exploring these applications as they adopt blockchain technology.
The announcement comes as the stablecoin sector continues to expand rapidly. Ripple noted it has steadily grown RLUSD since its launch, pushing its market capitalization to $1.7 billion. The company believes regulated products like RLUSD will play a central role as traditional finance increasingly adopts blockchain technology.
With regulatory approval now secured and distribution underway through SBI VC Trade, Ripple is now closer to establishing RLUSD as a global enterprise-grade stablecoin. The launch also expands Ripple’s presence across Asia and further reinforces Japan’s position as one of the world’s leading markets for regulated digital asset innovation.
The CoinRemark Team
Temitope Olajide
