Rakuten to allow XRP to be used as payment method by its 44 million customers

Rakuten Pay users will also be able to spot trade XRP via the Rakuten Pay app and exchange the Japanese e-commerce giant’s points to purchase Ripple’s token

Apr 14, 2026

Rakuten is set to allow its 44 million users to spot trade XRP and us it as a payment method via its Rakuten Pay app.

What to know:

Rakuten is adding XRP to its Rakuten Pay app, letting 44 million users spend Ripple’s cryptocurrency at more than 5 million merchant locations across Japan.

Starting April 15, users will be able to buy XRP with Rakuten Points, spot trade it in the app and hold it in their Rakuten Wallet, integrating the token into one of Japan’s largest loyalty systems.

The move follows Rakuten’s earlier support for bitcoin, ether and bitcoin cash and is being hailed by a Ripple executive as a major milestone for broader digital asset adoption.

Japan’s e-commerce giant Rakuten is adding XRP to its Rakuten Pay app, allowing its 44 million users to use Ripple’s cryptocurrency as a payment method with more than 5 million merchant locations across the country.

In an announcement via X on Tuesday, Tatsuya Kohrogi, Ripple’s senior ecosystem growth manager, said Rakuten is also enabling its users to spot trade XRP via the app. He said they will also be able to purchase XRP with Rakuten points and hold it in their Rakuten Wallet.

https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/04/14/...-44-million-customers


 

Viber, Happydemics partner to redefine ad impact metrics

April 14, 2026

Rakuten Viber is teaming up with ad-tech firm Happydemics to give brands a clearer picture of how advertising actually influences people, not just how often ads are seen.

Why it matters
Marketers are facing mounting pressure to prove returns on every campaign. Traditional metrics like impressions and reach show scale, but they often fail to capture whether ads truly resonate. That gap is becoming harder to ignore as companies tighten budgets and demand measurable outcomes.

What’s new
The partnership introduces a unified, real-time dashboard that measures “brand lift” on Viber. This includes key indicators such as ad recall and purchase intent, helping advertisers understand which creative elements drive results across the marketing funnel.

How it works
Happydemics’ methodology relies on voluntary, real-time responses instead of cookies or tracking tools. The result is a privacy-first measurement model that works across formats and channels while remaining compliant with evolving data regulations.

https://insiderph.com/...demics-partner-to-redefine-ad-impact-metrics
 

Global Enterprise Expansion with Local Relevance | Featuring Wind River and Rakuten Cloud

April 13, 2026

Rakuten Symphony announced the global integration of Rakuten Cloud-Native Storage with Wind River Cloud Platform, delivering a pre-tested, enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure solution for customers seeking secure, scalable and highly available environments. Wind River and Rakuten Symphony executives discuss the important customer needs being addressed and benefits provided with this new partnership: secure environment, end to end solution, reduced cost of ownership and a lot more.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ7W_j4jXmg
 

Japans E-Commerce-Gigant Rakuten integriert den Token XRP in seine Zahlungs- und Loyalty-Infrastruktur. Damit erhalten rund 44 Millionen Nutzer der Rakuten-Pay-App Zugang zu einer der größten Krypto-Implementierungen im globalen Einzelhandel.

Mit der Einführung von XRP als Zahlungsmethode können Kunden künftig bei mehr als fünf Millionen Händlern landesweit direkt mit der Kryptowährung bezahlen. Die Integration erfolgt über die mobile Wallet "Rakuten Pay" sowie die zugehörige Rakuten Wallet.

Die Neuerung geht jedoch über reine Zahlungsfunktionen hinaus. Nutzer können XRP künftig auch direkt innerhalb der App handeln, speichern und in das hauseigene Bezahlsystem "Rakuten Cash" übertragen. Damit verschmilzt Rakuten erstmals Trading, Wallet und Payment vollständig in einer Plattform.

Besonders bemerkenswert ist auch die Verknüpfung mit dem Rakuten-Punktesystem – eines der größten Bonusprogramme weltweit. Über drei Billionen Punkte, umgerechnet rund 23 Milliarden US-Dollar, befinden sich derzeit im Umlauf. Diese können nun direkt in XRP umgewandelt werden.

https://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/...illionen-rakuten-nutzer
 

April 16, 2026

Rakuten Travel has announced the "Rakuten Travel Award 2025," recognizing the top registered accommodation facilities across Japan. Just 0.6% of around 40,000 facilities nationwide were selected for the exclusive gathering, where they celebrated their success alongside Rakuten employees. In addition to the awards, 2025 initiatives were shared at the ceremony, with many hotels emphasizing their focus on AI utilization and DX (digital transformation), with comments such as "switched to advance card payments for all booking sites" and "advanced operational efficiency using AI."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y8NwPl0qxk
 

that it make sence since month:

Rakuten Group Cashes In: Sells AST SpaceMobile (ASTS) Shares for $270 Million - only about 10% of the owner

Rakuten Mobile sold 3.04M shares of ASTS for $270M amid a 289% price surge, despite volatility and ongoing profitability concerns. Upcoming satellite launch noted.

The transactions were split into two separate actions: on April 14, 1,690,000 shares were sold at a weighted average price of $91.42, while the following day saw a further 1,350,000 shares sold at an average of $86.22. Despite the sale, Rakuten retains a considerable stake in AST SpaceMobile, holding 27,980,155 shares.

https://bizbrief.ie/investing/...emobile-asts-shares-for-270-million/
 

Excellent for Cabify – Rakuten has the biggest ownership

Latin America Ride Sharing Market Growth Analysis, Dynamics, Key Players and Innovations, Outlook and Forecast 2026-2034

Published on: 06 April 2026

Latin America Ride Sharing Market Insights

The Latin America ride sharing market size was valued at USD 4.31 billion in 2024. The market is projected to grow from USD 5.23 billion in 2025 to USD 17.85 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 19.3% during the forecast period.

Ride sharing involves the use of digital platforms to connect passengers with drivers using their personal vehicles for on-demand transportation services. This model provides a flexible and often more affordable alternative to traditional taxis and car ownership, primarily facilitated through smartphone applications that handle booking, routing, and cashless payments.

The market is experiencing rapid growth due to several factors, including high urbanization rates leading to traffic congestion, increasing smartphone and internet penetration, and a large young population comfortable with digital services. Additionally, economic factors such as the high cost of vehicle ownership and underdeveloped public transport in many cities are driving adoption. Initiatives by key players are also expected to fuel market growth. For instance, companies like Uber and Didi have heavily invested in localized payment solutions and safety features tailored for the region. Cabify, Beat (part of FREE NOW), and local operators like 99 (owned by Didi) are some of the key players that operate in the market with a wide range of service offerings.

https://www.intelmarketresearch.com/...de-sharing-market-market-40198