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Japanese financial commentator Yuto Kanzaki has highlighted a possible major turning point for Ripple and XRP.
In a tweet, he mentioned that Japan and South Korea are quietly discussing joint blockchain projects. Although these talks aren’t public yet, Kanzaki says they could be important. Accordingly, XRP holders should watch for updates, as this could affect Ripple’s role in Asia.
Japan–South Korea Blockchain Talks
Notably, Kanzaki highlights growing cooperation between Japan and South Korea, two of Asia’s most influential financial markets. Developing joint blockchain infrastructure suggests long-term strategic alignment, not just experimentation.
This could boost institutional blockchain use in payments, settlements, and enterprise solutions, which are areas where Ripple and the XRP Ledger are already active.
Japan Prepares Regulatory Clarity for Ripple
In a tweet on December 2, Kanzaki stated that Japan plans to announce new regulations affecting Ripple Prime and Ripple Custody. These rules would let both services operate fully under Japan’s digital asset framework.
Clear regulations could help Ripple expand adoption among banks, asset managers, and enterprises in Japan.
Ripple’s XRPL Japan and Korea Fund Lays the Groundwork
The policy and infrastructure discussions come against the backdrop of Ripple’s earlier strategic moves in the region. In mid-2024, Ripple committed a large portion of its 1 billion XRP pledge to the XRPL Japan and Korea Fund.
The fund focused on four key areas:
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Expanding partnerships with leading Japanese and Korean companies to integrate XRPL into real-world operations
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Supporting promising XRPL-based projects across business, finance, and technical development
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Investing in early-stage startups building new applications on the XRP Ledger
- Funding education programs, hackathons, and local blockchain events
Ripple indicated that this commitment could amount to tens of millions of dollars over time, highlighting its confidence in both markets.
Growing Validator Presence Strengthens XRPL in Asia
Amid these, institutional involvement in the XRP Ledger is rising in Japan and South Korea. In South Korea, regulated virtual asset provider Infinite Block became an XRPL validator last year, supporting compliant XRP services for corporate clients.
In Japan, SBI VC Trade also joined as a validator, showing strong support for XRP and the XRPL ecosystem.
These moves make the network more decentralized and credible, especially in Asia’s highly regulated markets.
Why XRP Holders Should Pay Close Attention
Put together, private government talks, Japan’s advancing regulations, Ripple’s XRP investment fund, and growing validator participation all signal deeper institutional use of the XRP Ledger in Asia.
This convergence is why Kanzaki believes XRP holders should pay close attention. In other words, should Japan and South Korea move forward with joint blockchain projects, Ripple’s early involvement could be key in shaping the next wave of adoption in the region.