XRP price powers to $1.46 after Rakuten adoption in Japan

The Rakuten milestone 

While the broader market remains focused on the geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, XRP is decoupling through a utility-first breakthrough in Asia. 

Rakuten has announced the integration of XRP into its core payment infrastructure; effective April 15, 2026, Rakuten Pay users can convert accumulated loyalty points — part of a 3 trillion point rewards pool — directly into XRP. These funds can be spent at over 5 million merchant locations across Japan, including major convenience stores and retail chains.

Tatsuya Kohrogi, Ripple’s Senior Ecosystem Growth Manager, described the integration as "one of the most significant XRP milestones", and that Rakuten is one of Japan's most trusted consumer brands.

Ending the seven-month downtrend

The climb to the high of $1.46 highlights a notable structural change for XRP, in light of the struggles since the start of 2026. Prior to this week, XRP had declined roughly 27% year-to-date, pinned down by macro uncertainty and a persistent descending channel that defined its price action since late 2025.

Having hovered in the mid-$1.30 area for weeks, the reclaim of $1.40 is technically significant as it represents the first time in over 30 weeks that XRP is on the verge of closing a monthly candle in positive territory. The breakout from a seven-month downtrend has invalidated the series of ‘lower highs’ that characterized each monthly candle since the asset's peak last year. 

XRP price analysis

Following the Rakuten news and the ETF inflow surge, XRP has established a new technical floor near the $1.35 to $1.37 range.

With $1.25 billion in cumulative net inflows and four consecutive days of institutional buying, sell-side liquidity appears to be tightening. Total asset under management (AUM) across the six approved spot XRP ETFs now represents approximately 1.5% of XRP's total market cap, creating a structural demand that absorbs retail volatility.

The ‘Clarity’ factor

The rally is further underpinned by developments in Washington. Senator Cynthia Lummis's recent "America needs Clarity" rallying call on X has led to expectations that the CLARITY Act markup may advance through the Senate Banking Committee before the end of the month.

White House advisers have indicated that the stablecoin yield compromise, the primary hurdle for the bill, is holding firm. If the Banking Committee successfully marks up the legislation by May, it may codify XRP's status as a digital commodity, providing the legal finality required for larger institutional portfolio allocations.

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