Ripple Partners With SBI to Distribute RLUSD Stablecoin in Japan
Key Takeaways
- Ripple and SBI Holdings, together with SBI VC Trade, have signed a memorandum of understanding to distribute Ripple’s US dollar‑backed stablecoin in Japan.
- The stablecoin has grown to a $666 million market cap, according to CoinGecko.
Ripple teams up with TradFi giant SBI to distribute RLUSD stablecoin in Japan
Ripple teams up with TradFi giant SBI to distribute RLUSD stablecoin in Japan, a landmark move that expands Ripple’s US‑dollar‑collateralised token into one of the world’s most regulated financial ecosystems. The partnership, formalised through a memorandum of understanding among Ripple, SBI Holdings, and SBI VC Trade, lays out a phased rollout of RLUSD, with an anticipated launch slated for early 2026.
SBI VC Trade, a fully licensed electronic payment instruments exchange service, will spearhead the distribution and regulatory compliance aspects of the launch. Leveraging its deep expertise in Japan’s rigorous financial framework, the consortium aims to offer RLUSD as a fully‑backed, transparent stable‑coin to consumers and enterprises alike.
RLUSD’s backing remains fully secured by US dollar deposits, short‑term Treasury securities and highly liquid cash equivalents. Monthly third‑party attestations verify that the reserves match or exceed the dollar face value, ensuring crypto‑market participants that the token is truly pegged to the US dollar. CoinGecko reports a current market cap of roughly $666 million.
The $300B stablecoin market is set to grow into the trillions.
Together with @sbivc_official, we’re bringing $RLUSD to Japan in early 2026, offering users and institutions a trusted, regulated and fully-backed stablecoin built for enterprise use cases.
— Ripple (@Ripple) August 22, 2025
According to SBI VC Trade CEO Tomohiko Kondo, “The introduction of RLUSD is not only a new option for stablecoins in the Japanese market, it is a significant stride toward making stable‑coins a reliable and convenient component of the financial ecosystem, and we are pleased to deepen our collaboration with Ripple to build a safe and transparent infrastructure.”
Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, commented that the deal “signifies the culmination of a long‑term effort to establish a robust, compliant framework for Stablecoins in Japan and beyond. We expect the partnership to accelerate RLUSD’s adoption and set a benchmark for the entire market.”
Beyond RLUSD, SBI Holdings is exploring a dual Bitcoin and XRP ETF, pending further regulatory adjustments from the Financial Services Agency’s ongoing review, signaling a broadening of its digital‑asset strategy.
Explore more about stable‑coin evolution and fintech innovations here.
