On Aug. 22, the stablecoin issuer announced that it had signed a memorandum of understanding with SBI VC Trade, a Japanese financial powerhouse SBI Holdings subsidiary.
Speaking on the move, SBI VC Trade CEO Tomohiko Kondo said the initiative is more than a mere expansion of stablecoin options in Japan.
According to him:
“[This] is a major step forward in the reliability and convenience of stablecoins in the Japanese market, and an important step in further accelerating the convergence of finance and digital technology.”
The timing of the MOU aligns with Japan’s broader push to clarify stablecoin regulations.
Earlier this month, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) began reviewing proposals for a yen-pegged stablecoin to support cross-border payments, corporate transactions, and DeFi applications.
Furthermore, the enhanced US regulatory environment, together with Ripple’s pursuit of a national banking charter for RLUSD and its registration with the New York Department of Financial Services, strengthens the stablecoin’s regulatory standing.
This combination makes RLUSD the first digital asset in the country to operate under both state and federal oversight.
Jack McDonald, Ripple’s Senior Vice President of Stablecoins, said:
“RLUSD is designed to be a true industry standard, providing a reliable and efficient bridge between traditional and decentralized finance.”
