SBI Japan move fuels XRP $8 breakout talk

SBI Ripple Asia has launched a regulated prepaid payment token platform on the XRP Ledger in Japan, targeting a market worth around $200 billion in annual transaction volume.

The platform, approved under Japan’s Payment Services Act, enables companies like Tobu Top Tours to issue yen-backed tokens for use across travel services, marking a major institutional use case for XRP infrastructure.

“The first PSA-registered prepaid payment token on the XRP Ledger public mainnet is now live, issued by Tobu Top Tours via SBI Ripple Asia's token-issuance platform,”

Wrote @KairoVault.

XRP traded at $1.44 following the announcement, remaining rangebound despite the development, which many analysts see as a long-awaited signal of real-world adoption in Japan’s financial system.

Bullish forecasts suggest XRP could reach between $8 and $27 within a year if adoption accelerates, while Standard Chartered has set a more conservative $2.80 target for 2026 and $12.60 by 2028.

However, bearish sentiment persists as ETF inflows slow and March records net outflows, with some analysts arguing that macro catalysts such as US regulatory clarity are still required for a sustained breakout.

The SBI initiative adds to a broader trend of regulated blockchain payment systems emerging globally, but XRP’s price outlook will depend on whether real transaction volume follows adoption announcements.

At the time of reporting, XRP price was $1.41.