SBI Ripple Asia, a joint venture between SBI Holdings and Ripple, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Tobu Top Tours, a major Japanese travel and tourism operator, to develop a closed-loop tokenized payment ecosystem. The agreement, announced on September 30, 2025, involves issuing proprietary tokens on the XRP Ledger, tailored for partner companies and organizations.
The platform will mint unique tokens for destinations, brands, and communities, integrating them with NFTs that function as digital souvenirs, discount vouchers, or programmable membership cards. Tobu Top Tours will leverage its industry network to onboard partners, expand merchant networks, and design NFT-based marketing strategies, while SBI Ripple Asia handles token issuance and blockchain infrastructure. The service is targeted for launch in the first half of 2026.
Key use cases include tourism, where geographically locked tokens streamline cashless payments and keep spending within local economies; disaster relief, with tokens ensuring aid funds are spent locally at businesses like restaurants and shops; and the fan economy, where sports teams and artists can issue branded tokens for merchandise and events, deepening engagement through rewards. This initiative builds on SBI Ripple Asia's broader strategy to promote enterprise blockchain solutions in Japan, following a May 2025 partnership with HashKey DX and Ripple.
USDC
ETH
XSGD
APEING
XLM
HYPE
LINK