XRP climbs toward $1.38 as Japan's Rakuten integrates token for payments

$XRP is pushing higher again, with volume confirming the move, but it still has to prove this is more than a short-term breakout. The rally is holding for now, and the addition of real-world usage through Rakuten gives it a stronger narrative than recent moves.

News Background

• Japan’s e-commerce giant Rakuten is integrating $XRP into its payments app, allowing 44 million users to spend it across more than 5 million merchants. Users can also buy $XRP using loyalty points and hold it within Rakuten Wallet, embedding the token into a major consumer ecosystem.

• The move ties $XRP into one of Japan’s largest rewards systems, where over $23 billion worth of points are in circulation. Ripple called it one of the most significant milestones for $XRP adoption, reinforcing its push into Asia alongside long-standing partnerships like SBI Ripple Asia.

Price Action Summary

• $XRP moved from $1.32 to $1.38, breaking out of the $1.325-$1.33 resistance zone on strong volume.
• The rally built gradually with sustained buying rather than a single spike, indicating accumulation.
• Price is now consolidating just below $1.38, holding gains but not yet extending into a fresh leg higher.

Technical Analysis

• The breakout stands out because of volume. The move was backed by clear participation, not thin liquidity.
• Whale accumulation and rising open interest show positioning is building behind the move.
• Despite this, $XRP is still trading within a broader downtrend channel, so the structure has not fully flipped bullish.
• ETF outflows and continued realized losses suggest longer-term conviction remains mixed even as short-term momentum improves.

What traders should watch

• $1.37 is now the key pivot. Holding above it keeps the breakout intact and supports continuation.
• $1.40 to $1.42 remains the real test. A clean break here would shift momentum more meaningfully.
• A move back below $1.32 to $1.30 would invalidate the breakout and return $XRP to its prior range.