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The $23 Billion Catalyst: Why XRP Social Sentiment Just Hit a 2-Year High
TL;DR
XRP's social sentiment has surged to a two-year high after Rakuten launched a feature allowing users to convert loyalty points into the token. This initiative gives 44 million users access to XRP, significantly boosting its visibility and trading potential.
Key points
- XRP social sentiment hits a two-year high
- Rakuten allows loyalty points conversion into XRP
- 44 million users can access XRP through Rakuten Pay
- Rakuten's loyalty network has over $23 billion in points
- Launch campaign includes rewards for XRP purchases
Mentioned in this story
RakutenRippleX
XRP is generating some of the loudest online buzz it has seen in two years, according to on-chain analytics firm Santiment, after Japanese retail giant Rakuten launched the ability for users to convert loyalty points directly into the token.
The move gives 44 million Rakuten Pay users access to the digital asset across a loyalty network carrying more than $23 billion in points, and Santiment says the resulting social media reaction ranks as XRP’s second-highest bullish sentiment reading in the past 24 months.
What the Rakuten Deal Actually Means
Starting today, Rakuten Wallet users in Japan can convert Rakuten Group points into XRP, trade the asset in-app, and spend it at over five million merchant locations nationwide. RippleX, the developer arm behind the XRP Ledger, confirmed the launch on X, describing it as “one of the largest retail deployments of XRP as a payment method to date.”
Rakuten Wallet is running a launch campaign that rewards users who purchase 30,000 yen or more in XRP with bonus tokens, with larger prizes available through a lottery for those who invest 100,000 yen or more. An iOS version of the updated app is also planned, following the Android early release.
The scale here matters. Loyalty points are a consumer product that almost everyone already uses but rarely thinks about critically. As one observer noted on X, “points are familiar; crypto still isn’t,” and the ability to move seamlessly from a rewards balance into a digital asset that spends at real stores removes one of the bigger psychological barriers to crypto adoption.
Ripple has been building momentum around its broader ecosystem in recent weeks, with its RLUSD stablecoin getting listed for trading across more than 280 pairs on OKX, and the firm announcing a partnership with South Korean internet bank KBank to explore real-world blockchain remittances through its network.
That collaboration built on Ripple’s ongoing expansion across Asia, which also includes a deal with life insurance company Kyobo Life Insurance focused on tokenized government bond settlements.
Q&A
What is the significance of Rakuten allowing loyalty points to be converted into XRP?
This move provides 44 million Rakuten Pay users access to XRP, enhancing its adoption and visibility in the market.
How much in loyalty points is associated with Rakuten's new XRP feature?
Rakuten's loyalty network carries over $23 billion in points, which can now be converted into XRP.
What rewards are offered to Rakuten Wallet users for purchasing XRP?
Users who buy 30,000 yen or more in XRP will receive bonus tokens, with larger prizes available through a lottery for purchases of 100,000 yen or more.
