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Rakuten just made a move that most crypto markets have not priced in. Japan’s largest e-commerce and retail giant converted $23 billion in loyalty points into spendable digital assets, settling transactions across 5 million physical stores. Forty-four million users now have access to the XRP Ledger.
Crypto analyst Cheeky Crypto (@CheekyCrypto) broke this down in a recent video, arguing the Rakuten integration is not an experiment. He calls it “a structural shift that’s bypassing everything that you thought that you knew about how people would enter the digital asset market.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
 I just found a 100% invisible Ripple XRP takeover
 Are 44,000,000 people about to buy XRP? 44 million people just gained ledger access without even knowing it as Japan rewires the retail economy. Japan’s biggest giant just turned $23 billion in loyalty points into a massive… <a href="https://t.co/mL08iY8l61" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">pic.twitter.com/mL08iY8l61</a>
 — Cheeky Crypto (@CheekyCrypto) <a href="https://twitter.com/CheekyCrypto/status/2048358044824895534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">April 26, 2026</a>
</blockquote>
<h2 id="strong-the-rakuten-integration-strong">The Rakuten Integration</h2>
Rakuten has <a href="https://timestabloid.com/44-million-users-can-now-buy-xrp-directly-heres-the-latest/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">integrated XRP into its Rakuten Pay app</a>, giving 44 million users the ability to convert loyalty points into the token and spend it across 5 million merchant locations in Japan The architecture of this system removes two of the biggest barriers in crypto adoption: centralized exchanges and KYC requirements.
Users gain access to on-chain settlement without filling out long verification forms or routing funds through a traditional exchange. Retail adoption has historically stalled at the onboarding stage and this system bypasses it entirely.
<h2 id="strong-sentiment-does-not-impact-utility-strong">Sentiment Does Not Impact Utility</h2>
Cheeky Crypto draws a sharp distinction between speculative trading volume and what Rakuten generates. Every QR code scanned at a checkout <a href="https://timestabloid.com/ripple-ceo-garlinghouse-says-xrp-moves-value-in-seconds/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">settles on the ledger in three seconds</a>.
That volume does not check sentiment before it moves. He describes it as “the first true retail supply sink that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of market sentiment.”
<h2 id="strong-the-stablecoin-question-and-ripple-s-counter-strong">The Stablecoin Question and Ripple’s Counter</h2>
The analysis addresses competitive pressure from RLUSD, Ripple’s proprietary stablecoin, which processed $3.5 billion in volume over a single 30-day period earlier this year. Cheeky Crypto acknowledges the concern that institutions may prefer a dollar-pegged asset over a volatile token.
His counter is that every RLUSD transaction on the ledger still requires the native asset for gas fees. As stablecoin velocity rises, <a href="https://timestabloid.com/every-transaction-burns-xrp-rlusd-just-hit-3-billion-in-monthly-volume/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">so does the burn rate on XRP supply</a>. He also notes Ripple’s acquisition of G-Treasury, positioning the company to retrofit software that Fortune 500 banks already run, extending its reach well beyond the retail layer.&nbsp;
<h2 id="strong-the-1-44-wall-and-what-comes-next-strong">The $1.44 Wall and What Comes Next</h2>
Spot ETFs now hold over 1% of total XRP supply and continue accumulating. Cheeky Crypto identifies $1.44 as the critical retail cost basis level blocking the next move.
Once that wall clears, he projects a <a href="https://timestabloid.com/next-xrp-price-targets-will-be-8-49-and-400-if-this-history-repeats/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">potential rise to $8</a>. He tracks Japan as the first domino, with companies like Amazon and Starbucks already being monitored for similar integrations. The Clarity Act’s upcoming Senate vote adds a further catalyst. The infrastructure is built and Rakuten proves that it works.
Disclaimer: This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses.
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The post <a href="https://timestabloid.com/top-trader-i-just-found-a-100-invisible-ripple-xrp-takeover-heres-what-it-means/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Top Trader: I just Found a 100% Invisible Ripple XRP Takeover. Here’s What It Means</a> appeared first on <a href="https://timestabloid.com" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Times Tabloid</a>.

Top Trader: I just Found a 100% Invisible Ripple XRP Takeover. Here’s What It Means

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