> At a Glance
> – Ripple teams up with Mizuho, SMBC Nikko, and Securitize Japan to tokenize real-world assets on XRPL
> – XRP surged 20% this week, hitting $2.25 amid ETF inflows and whale moves
> – Firm stays private after Q4’s $500M raise, valuing Ripple at $40B
> – Why it matters: Asia pivot and ETF boom fuel the token’s best run since 2017
Ripple’s native token is on fire, and the company’s banking push in Japan is adding fuel to the rally.
Japan Deals Heat Up
Ripple quietly locked in strategic hook-ups with Mizuho Bank, SMBC Nikko, and Securitize Japan to put securities and real-world assets on the XRP Ledger.
> “We aren’t just talking about payments anymore, we’re talking tokenized securities and real-world assets on the XRPL,” PaulBarron noted.
The moves deepen Ripple’s Asian footprint after Singapore’s MAS handed the firm a special license last month. Other stops on the expansion map:
- UAE
- Thailand
Funding & IPO Buzz
A $500 million Q4 raise pushed Ripple’s valuation to $40 billion, but President Monica Long says an IPO is off the table:
> “Currently, we still plan to remain private… We’re in a really healthy position to continue to fund and invest in our company’s growth without going public.”
ETF Flows & Price Spike
Spot XRP ETFs have pulled in $1.25 billion since Canary Capital debuted the first 100% XRP product in mid-November. Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, Grayscale, and 21Shares quickly followed.
WisdomTree just yanked its own S-1 filing:
> “The Trust is requesting withdrawal of the Registration Statement because it has determined not to proceed at this time with the offering covered by the Registration Statement. No shares were sold pursuant to the above-mentioned Registration Statement.”
CNBC dubbed XRP “the hottest crypto trade of the year” on January 6, citing “big money” flowing into the ETFs. Analysts flag the same setup that preceded explosive runs in 2017 and 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Ripple’s Japan bank deals shift focus to tokenized assets
- XRP’s 20% weekly jump tracks ETF inflows and shrinking exchange reserves
- Firm shelves IPO plans after a fresh $500 M war chest
With Asian partnerships expanding and ETFs soaking up supply, XRP’s latest breakout may have room to run.
