- Ripple and SBI VC Trade agree to distribute RLUSD in Japan in Q1 2026.
- SBI VC Trade plans rollout under Japan’s stablecoin framework and existing license.
Ripple and Japan’s SBI Holdings have signed a memorandum of understanding for SBI’s crypto unit, SBI VC Trade, to distribute Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin in Japan starting in the first quarter of 2026.
Ripple and SBI VC Trade sign memorandum to target Q1 2026 launch
The agreement positions SBI VC Trade as the local distribution partner for RLUSD, a dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Ripple. The companies said the rollout timeline is aimed at the first quarter of 2026, contingent on standard approvals and technical onboarding.
The arrangement follows years of collaboration between Ripple and SBI across payments and digital asset services in Japan. Distribution through a domestic exchange aligns with Japanese rules that require licensed intermediaries to handle foreign-issued stablecoins.
🇯🇵 JUST IN: Ripple and Japan's SBI Holdings through its subsidiary SBI VC Trade announce partnership to distribute RLUSD stablecoin in Japan in Q1 2026. pic.twitter.com/7hHKgIdIFk
— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) August 22, 2025
Under the memorandum, SBI VC Trade will manage listings and client onboarding for retail and institutional users, while Ripple focuses on issuance, reserves management and integration with payments and tokenization use cases on supported networks. Further details on redemption rails and reporting are expected closer to launch.
SBI VC Trade’s stablecoin license sets distribution pathway in Japan
SBI VC Trade has obtained the Electronic Payment Instruments Exchange Service Provider designation, which enables it to handle stablecoins within Japan’s amended Payment Services Act framework.
That licensing is central to the distribution plan and mirrors the approach used for other dollar stablecoins entering the market through domestic entities.
The move arrives as Japan’s regulated stablecoin market continues to open to overseas issuers via local partners. Earlier this year, SBI VC Trade supported the introduction of USDC in Japan, underscoring the exchange’s role as a gateway for compliant dollar-denominated tokens.
Ripple’s partnership sets up RLUSD to compete in the same channel with an emphasis on enterprise payments and programmable settlement.
Market positioning will depend on reserve transparency, liquidity support on Japanese venues and interoperability with existing payment flows.
Ripple has recently expanded its stablecoin business and infrastructure, a signal that it intends to deepen utility beyond trading into settlement and treasury applications for corporates and financial institutions.
The collaboration with SBI provides a distribution foundation in one of the most tightly regulated jurisdictions for fiat-backed tokens.
Operational milestones ahead of the target window include finalizing product documentation for Japanese clients, coordinating fiat on- and off-ramps with local banking partners, and completing technical integrations required by domestic compliance standards.
The firms indicated that specific launch mechanics, including wallet compatibility and supported venues, will be disclosed as onboarding progresses.
At the time of this update, XRP is trading at exactly $2.81 USD, down $0.09 (a -3.10 % decline) from the previous close, with intraday lows and highs of $2.81 and $2.92 respectively, according to the live crypto price feed.
