Japan’s Finance Minister has publicly expressed support for blockchain-based securities settlement and stablecoin integration, which could strengthen the outlook for XRP and Ripple USD (RLUSD).
The development gained attention after XRP community figure Crypto Eri highlighted remarks by Japan’s Finance Minister, Satsuki Katayama, on X following a cabinet meeting press conference.
Key Points
Japan’s Finance Minister backs blockchain-based securities settlement, boosting XRP and RLUSD outlooks.
- Advertisement -The FSA-led project links securities settlement to stablecoins, making trading faster and more efficient.
SBI Holdings’ blockchain efforts gain government support, highlighting XRP’s role in cross-border payments.
RLUSD launch in Japan (Q1 2026) aligns with policy amid growing institutional momentum for crypto.
Japan Backs Blockchain Settlement Initiative
During the February 13 press conference, Katayama confirmed the government’s support for a blockchain-based settlement project launched by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) in November 2025.
The project aims to track and manage international investment trust transfers on blockchain and link securities settlement to stablecoin payments, making trading faster and more efficient.
Katayama described the effort as a positive cross-industry initiative to modernize Japan’s financial infrastructure. She noted that no country has fully realized such a system. Meanwhile, she emphasized Japan’s intention to remain at the forefront of global financial innovation.
SBI’s Role in the Push
Katayama also referenced SBI Holdings’ efforts to develop a similar blockchain-based settlement system. The minister confirmed that the government is supporting these efforts on legal and regulatory fronts.
Such systems could enable Tokyo’s markets to process settlements faster and more efficiently using blockchain rails and stablecoins. For XRP supporters, SBI’s involvement is particularly significant.
Ripple and RLUSD Expansion in Japan
SBI has maintained a long-standing partnership with Ripple and has integrated XRP into its cross-border remittance services for years.
In August 2025, Ripple and SBI confirmed plans to launch RLUSD in Japan, with distribution led by SBI VC Trade. The stablecoin is backed one-to-one by U.S. dollar deposits and short-term government bonds, with monthly third-party attestations.
RLUSD is scheduled to go live in Japan in Q1 2026, pending regulatory clearance. The Finance Minister’s public support for blockchain settlement and stablecoin usage may indirectly strengthen the environment for RLUSD adoption.
While Katayama did not mention Ripple or XRP specifically, the policy direction aligns with initiatives already underway between Ripple and SBI.
Broader Institutional Momentum
SBI has also proposed crypto ETFs in Japan, including XRP and Bitcoin ETFs. If Japan successfully implements blockchain and stablecoins for securities settlement, it could boost demand for infrastructure and liquidity assets. XRP, as a bridge for cross-border payments, and RLUSD, as a regulated institutional stablecoin, could benefit from this shift.
Essentially, the Finance Ministry’s support represents another step toward regulatory acceptance of blockchain finance in one of Asia’s largest economies, a development the XRP community views as a win.
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