Latest XRP & Ripple Developments

Rakuten Wallet announced support for XRP as a payment method starting April 15, 2026. Users can convert Rakuten Points to XRP, load into Rakuten Cash, and spend via Rakuten Pay across millions of merchants globally — a significant milestone for real-world XRP adoption.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed strong optimism that the long-awaited CLARITY Act could pass soon, signaling regulatory resolution on stablecoin yields. He described XRP as representing an 'internet moment for money,' with Ripple targeting SWIFT's $5+ trillion daily settlement market.

In November 2025, the SEC approved the first wave of spot XRP ETFs from Bitwise, Grayscale, 21Shares, Canary Capital, and Franklin Templeton. These products are now available on NYSE Arca, Nasdaq, and Cboe BZX, opening XRP to retail and institutional investors who prefer regulated investment products.

Ripple Treasury and XRP are now connected to SWIFT, bridging blockchain rails with the existing global banking system. Major banks including BBVA, BNP Paribas, and Citigroup are actively engaging with both SWIFT's blockchain initiatives and Ripple's custody solutions.

Ripple launched RLUSD, its USD-backed stablecoin, on the XRP Ledger. This addition expands the ecosystem's DeFi capabilities and reinforces XRP's position as a versatile digital asset for both payments and decentralized finance applications.