JFSA regulatory approval marks RLUSD’s official debut in Japan, unlocking access for institutions and retail through SBI VC Trade
TOKYO, JAPAN – June 24 , 2026 – Ripple, the leading provider of blockchain-based enterprise solutions across traditional and digital finance, together with SBI Holdings, a major Japanese financial services conglomerate, alongside its subsidiary SBI VC Trade Co., Ltd., a licensed Electronic Payment Instruments Exchange Service Provider (jointly “SBI Group”), today announced the official launch and availability of Ripple USD (RLUSD) in Japan. This milestone delivers on the strategic vision outlined in their initial memorandum of understanding (MOU) announced in August 2025 and marks RLUSD’s entry into one of the world’s most sophisticated and forward-looking digital assets markets.
RLUSD’s launch in Japan follows regulatory approval from the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA), under which RLUSD is categorized as a new type of electronic payment instrument under Japan’s Payment Services Act, which is intended for foreign-issued stablecoins that ensure the safety and regulatory standards required under Japanese law. RLUSD will be offered to both institutional and retail users through SBI VC Trade’s VCTRADE platform.
"Japan has long been a leader in digital asset adoption, underpinned by both regulatory clarity and financial innovation. This launch marks an important step in expanding access to transparent, regulated USD-backed stablecoins like RLUSD for financial institutions, consumers and businesses in Japan,” said Jack McDonald, Senior Vice President of Stablecoins at Ripple. “Through our collaboration with SBI Group, RLUSD will serve as a bridge for payments, tokenization and collateral management,connecting Japanese businesses and individuals more efficiently to global liquidity. Together, we're helping advance regulated stablecoin adoption across Asia."
"We are truly pleased to announce the launch of support for RLUSD, a U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoin. Ripple and the SBI Group have worked closely together for many years with a shared vision of advancing the future of on-chain finance. The introduction of RLUSD represents a major milestone in our ongoing collaboration and our efforts to drive innovation in digital finance. Looking ahead, we remain fully committed to expanding the range of services built around RLUSD and fostering new use cases that deliver greater value to our customers and the broader market," said SBI VC Trade CEO, Tomohiko Kondo.
RLUSD is an enterprise-grade, USD-backed stablecoin built with trust, liquidity, and compliance at its core. Since its launch in late 2024, RLUSD has reached US$1.7 billion in market capitalization, driven by increasing demand for regulated, enterprise-ready digital assets. Already deployed across multiple markets to enable faster settlements, greater transparency, and more efficient cross-border liquidity, RLUSD is also being actively explored for next-generation applications including programmable trade settlements and supply chain finance.
This builds on a decade-long relationship between Ripple and SBI Group, which have worked together since 2016 to advance digital asset and blockchain-based financial infrastructure across Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Through a series of joint initiatives, the two companies have helped drive innovation in cross-border payments and digital asset adoption. With RLUSD now available through SBI VC Trade, the partnership enters its next phase, bringing a regulated, enterprise-grade stablecoin to one of the world's most sophisticated digital asset markets.
About Ripple
Founded in 2012, Ripple is the leading provider of blockchain-based enterprise solutions across traditional and digital finance. Its solutions span global payments, custody, liquidity, and treasury management, serving as a one-stop shop for moving, storing, exchanging, and managing value. Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, and the cryptocurrency XRP underpinning these solutions allow Ripple and its customers to shape the modern financial system.
About SBI VC Trade
SBI VC Trade, under the slogan “Cryptocurrency is also SBI,” leverages the comprehensive capabilities of the SBI Group, Japan’s largest internet-based financial services group, to provide a full range of cryptocurrency trading services. As a Crypto Asset Exchange Service Provider, Type 1 Financial Instruments Service Provider, and Electronic Payment Instruments Exchange Service Provider, the company operates under a robust security framework. Beyond simply buying and selling crypto assets, SBI VC Trade is expanding into crypto asset management services and corporate-focused services, as well as becoming the first in Japan to begin handling USDC. SBI VC Trade is committed to creating innovative services and businesses rooted in a customer-centric principle.
Media Contacts:
Ripple
Hsueh Mei Tan