Under expectations of Japan's easing policies, Rakuten XRP payment feature gains attention

The discussion on Japan’s virtual asset tax reform has officially begun, making Rakuten’s new XRP features even more attention-grabbing. As the plan to lower the virtual asset transfer income tax rate from a maximum of 55% to 20% is being explored, some analysts point out that Japanese consumers may accelerate viewing cryptocurrencies as “spending” assets rather than “holding” assets.

According to Cointelegraph, Rakuten Wallet launched a feature this week that allows Japanese users to directly exchange their held Rakuten points for XRP. The exchanged XRP can be traded within the app or used for payments at over 5 million Rakuten Pay partner stores. This effectively means cryptocurrencies have entered a large retail payment network.

Integrating XRP into a 3 Trillion Point Ecosystem

Rakuten’s advantage lies in its massive user base. The company’s loyalty points exceed 3 trillion points, worth approximately $23 billion. With 44 million Rakuten Pay users alone, this feature may reach ordinary consumers earlier than existing crypto investors.

Tadashi Koryu, Senior Manager of Ripple Japan Ecosystem Growth, said: “The key is that most users have never been exposed to cryptocurrencies.” As a representative platform in Japan covering e-commerce, finance, and communications, this collaboration is not just a simple event but a significant expansion of XRP into everyday payment areas.

RippleX also confirmed the feature on the X platform, stating that users can convert points into XRP, trade within the app, and then use it at partner stores. Market reports indicate that after this announcement, the “social sentiment” related to XRP in Japan reached its second-highest level in two years.

More Important Than Short-Term Hype Is “Sustainability”

However, some cautious opinions suggest that price reactions may be slower than expected. Experts believe that search volume or community responses after the announcement will not immediately translate into price increases. What truly matters is whether users will go beyond initial curiosity and repeatedly use XRP.

Since partnering with SBI Group in 2016, Ripple has been expanding its presence in the Japanese market. Currently, Ripple plans to introduce its stablecoin RLUSD into Japan as well. As of writing, XRP is trading at $1.36, up about 3.25% in the past month.

The discussion of relaxing Japan’s tax system and Rakuten’s payment network expansion is fueling market expectations for XRP’s practical applications. However, the market needs to see real changes, and the key is whether this feature can go beyond a temporary topic and translate into actual consumer habits.

Article summary by TokenPost.ai 🔎 Market interpretation Japan’s virtual asset tax relaxation (from a maximum of 55% to 20%) is officially under discussion, strengthening the trend of shifting cryptocurrencies from “investment” to “spending.” Rakuten’s XRP payment feature combined with this policy change is seen as a key case for expanding practical use. 💡 Strategic points Rakuten’s 3 trillion point ecosystem and 44 million user base are core infrastructure for XRP diffusion. Repeated use (retention rate) is more important than short-term price increases. Payment network integration is more significant for onboarding “ordinary consumers” than for “new investors.” When Japanese policy changes align with platform expansion, there is potential to accelerate long-term adoption. 📘 Terminology explanations Transfer income tax: tax levied on profits from asset sales XRP: digital asset used in the Ripple network, designed for fast payments Stablecoin (RLUSD): a cryptocurrency pegged to fiat currency to reduce price volatility Social sentiment: an indicator reflecting investor and community attention and expectations

💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q. What impact will Japan’s tax reform have on the crypto market? If the current maximum rate of 55% drops to 20%, it will significantly reduce investment burdens. This is likely to promote the adoption of cryptocurrencies not only as investment assets but also as practical payment and consumption tools. Q. Why is Rakuten’s XRP feature important? The structure of converting Rakuten points into XRP and using them for payments directly connects cryptocurrencies to daily consumption. The 44 million user base and 5 million partner stores are factors that can quickly promote mass adoption. Q. Will this feature cause XRP prices to rise? In the short term, market reactions may be limited. Actual price increases depend on whether users repeatedly use XRP and establish it as a payment method; ongoing usage data is a more critical indicator.

TP AI Notice This article summary is generated based on the TokenPost.ai language model. The main content may have omissions or inaccuracies.