The price outlook for Ripple's XRP received a significant boost on April 15, 2026, as Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten's digital wallet service, Rakuten Wallet, added XRP as a payment method. This integration opens the token to Rakuten's massive user base of 44 million customers and over 5 million affiliated merchants across Japan, according to reports from crypto.news.
Ripple (XRP) was trading at $1.36 at the time of the announcement, which remains 64% below its all-time high of $3.65 reached in July 2025. The integration allows Rakuten Wallet users to convert their loyalty points into XRP and spend them via Rakuten Pay at the extensive merchant network. This move is seen as a major step for real-world cryptocurrency adoption in a key market.
Concurrently, legislative developments in the United States are providing further tailwinds for XRP. The CLARITY Act, aimed at providing regulatory clarity for digital assets, is scheduled for a markup in the Senate Banking Committee in late April. Financial institution Standard Chartered has projected that XRP could reach $8.00 by year-end if the act passes, although this target is contingent on sustained legal and regulatory progress.
Market data supports growing institutional interest. CoinShares reported $119.6 million in weekly inflows into cryptocurrency ETFs, marking the strongest weekly inflow since December. Additionally, on-chain data indicates that whale wallets have reached a 10-month high in accumulation of XRP.
For April 2026, technical analysis suggests XRP faces immediate resistance at $1.45, with a potential breakout target of $1.60. Support is identified at $1.28. The full-year price prediction range is broad, from a low of $1.15 to the bullish target of $8.00, heavily dependent on the outcome of the CLARITY Act and broader adoption metrics like the Rakuten integration.
