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Crypto educator Wilberforce Theophilus has argued that Japan, not the United States, will be the first major economy to fully adopt $XRP at scale.
He believes Japan’s move will set the stage for broader global adoption.
Key Points
- Japan could lead global $XRP adoption, driven by yen weakness and demand for new settlement systems.
- Supporters see $XRP success in Japan as a catalyst for institutional adoption worldwide.
- Critics warn national adoption won’t trigger a global reset and question $XRP’s scale and capacity.
- Growing $XRP infrastructure use in Japan keeps Asia in focus as a potential Ripple growth hub.
“Japan First, Then the U.S.”
In a recent post, Theophilus reiterated a prediction he says he made last year: Japan will lead the charge in $XRP adoption. He pointed to the ongoing depreciation of the Japanese yen as a catalyst, suggesting that economic pressure could accelerate interest in alternative settlement infrastructure.
According to his view, once $XRP proves successful in Japan, global institutions will follow. He described $XRP, the $XRP Ledger, and RLUSD as long-term solutions for cross-border settlement. However, these bold claims triggered pushback from other market participants.
Skepticism Around “Global Reset” Narratives
Squirrel Technologies pushed back against the idea that adoption by a single country would automatically translate into a global monetary overhaul. It stressed that national-level adoption does not instantly reshape the global financial system.
Others echoed this sentiment, warning against oversimplifying how institutional and sovereign adoption actually unfolds.
Trinity Ashcroft took a different angle, arguing that innovation often moves faster than regulation. In her view, waiting for governments to act could leave countries behind, as real-world adoption may happen organically before formal laws catch up.
Market Size and Scalability Concerns
Not all responses focused on policy or adoption timelines. Some critics challenged $XRP on more fundamental grounds.
Nathanpart Price questioned whether $XRP, or crypto markets as a whole, are large enough to absorb the level of capital implied by a global monetary shift. He compared crypto’s size to gold, noting that even gold’s massive market required decades to mature.
To him, assuming $XRP or even Bitcoin could serve as a settlement system for Japan and the world is unrealistic, given their relatively smaller scale compared to global needs.
Others, like Engerlandd, raised technical concerns. With AI agents expected to process massive transaction volumes in the future, critics questioned whether $XRP’s current throughput could compete with emerging high-TPS systems designed for machine-to-machine economies.
$XRP in Japan
Ultimately, whether Japan becomes the first nation to “go all in” on $XRP remains speculative. However, firms in Japan are increasingly adopting $XRP-related infrastructure.
Recently, Japanese analyst Yuto Kanzaki said $XRP holders should watch Japan closely, as Asia could become a major growth driver for Ripple.
He noted that Japan and South Korea are quietly discussing joint blockchain projects. While not yet public, talks between two major financial hubs suggest long-term infrastructure planning, which is an area where Ripple and the $XRP Ledger are already well-positioned.
Kanzaki also said Japan is preparing clearer rules for Ripple Prime and Ripple Custody. Once approved, these services could operate fully under Japan’s crypto framework, making it easier for banks and companies to adopt Ripple’s products.