XRP’s dual surge: ETF inflows hit $17.11 million as Rakuten integrates payments for 44 million users

XRP can now be spent by more than 44 million Rakuten Pay users across 5 million Japanese merchants, following the launch of spot trading and payment integration through Rakuten Wallet on April 15. Users may convert XRP into Rakuten Cash, an electronic money service, marking one of the largest direct bridges between cryptocurrency and everyday consumer spending in a major economy. The move coincided with a surge in institutional appetite: an XRP spot ETF recorded $17.11 million in net inflows that same day, the second-largest daily inflow since inception. Bitwise’s XRP fund drew $6.23 million, while Franklin’s XRPZ added $5.30 million, contributing to a total of $1.25 billion in cumulative ETF inflows. Market response was immediate—XRP rose 6% over the week, outpacing bitcoin’s 2.7% and ethereum’s 4.6% gains, and led the top 10 cryptocurrencies in 24-hour performance. Analysts attribute the inflows to a return of institutional capital into risk assets as macroeconomic and geopolitical conditions stabilize. The integration includes four other tokens—dogecoin, stellar lumens, shiba inu, and toncoin—but XRP stands apart due to its enterprise-focused network and the scale of Rakuten’s ecosystem. Tatsuya Korogi, a growth manager in the Ripple ecosystem, described the development as a “historic turning point,” noting that the 3.6 trillion yen (approximately $33.4 trillion won) in Rakuten points issued to date could eventually be converted into cryptocurrency demand. The XRP market is now being driven by dual forces: financialization through ETFs and real-world utility via mass payment infrastructure. Its future price trajectory will hinge on whether both channels sustain momentum.