Ripple RLUSD Stablecoin Goes Live in Japan After Regulatory Approval

• Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin officially launched in Japan on June 25, 2026, following approval from Japan’s Financial Services Agency (JFSA).
• SBI VC Trade is distributing RLUSD to both institutional and retail users under Japan’s regulated stablecoin framework.
• The launch follows months of regulatory and operational preparation that began with a Ripple-SBI partnership announced in August 2025.

Ripple Brings RLUSD to Japan Under New Stablecoin Rules

Ripple’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, officially launched in Japan on June 25, 2026, after receiving approval from the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA). The rollout makes Japan one of the first major Asian markets where the stablecoin is available under a fully regulated legal framework.

RLUSD is being distributed through SBI VC Trade, a subsidiary of SBI Holdings and one of Ripple’s longest-standing strategic partners. The launch fulfills a memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies on August 22, 2025, which outlined plans to introduce RLUSD to the Japanese market. Ripple announced that the token is available to both institutional and retail customers through SBI VC Trade’s platform.

The rollout follows Japan’s updated Payment Services Act, which recognizes qualifying foreign-issued stablecoins backed by trust structures as electronic payment instruments, allowing them to be legally distributed in the country. Ripple stated that RLUSD is issued through a trust company regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) and is backed 1:1 by cash and short-term U.S. Treasury reserves with regulatory oversight on both the issuance and distribution sides.

Recently, SBI Holdings launched its JPYSC stablecoin on the Ethereum network, highlighting Japan’s growing focus on regulated blockchain-based payment solutions.

Launch Follows Months of Regulatory Preparation

Although the public launch was announced on June 25, the initial distribution of RLUSD through SBI VC Trade began on March 31, 2026, following operational preparations between the two companies. Japan has gradually revised its stablecoin framework since 2023, with the latest regulatory updates completing the legal pathway for qualified foreign stablecoins.

SBI VC Trade already operated infrastructure for distributing regulated dollar-backed stablecoins, having previously introduced support for USDC in Japan. RLUSD now joins that ecosystem, expanding the range of regulated U.S. dollar stablecoins available in the country.

Reece Merrick, Senior Executive Officer and Managing Director for the Middle East & Africa at Ripple, said:

Ripple Expands Stablecoin Presence in Asia

The Japan launch strengthens Ripple’s partnership with SBI Holdings, which has collaborated with the company for years across cross-border payments, blockchain infrastructure, and digital asset services. With RLUSD now available under Japan’s regulated framework, Ripple expands its presence in one of Asia’s most established digital asset markets while positioning the stablecoin alongside other regulated dollar-denominated tokens available in the country.

Ripple invested in African fintech company Flutterwave during its Series E funding round, which valued the payments firm at $3.2 billion. The partnership aims to integrate RLUSD and Ripple’s payment infrastructure to expand regulated stablecoin-powered cross-border payments across Africa.