Catena, Thursday, June 12, 2025-Ripple has partnered with Asia Web3 Alliance Japan to support early-stage Web3 startups building on the XRP Ledger, pledging up to $200,000 in grants per project. The announcement, made Monday, is part of Ripple’s XRPL Japan and Korea Fund and its broader one billion XRP initiative.
The funding will be directed toward firms focused on decentralized finance, real-world asset tokenization and payment solutions. Eligible projects will be selected based on growth potential, technical strength and alignment with Ripple’s investment strategy.
Startups chosen under the program will gain access to Ripple’s global partner network, expert support and mentorship from Web3 Salon, which is backed by the Japan External Trade Organization.
Ripple said the effort is not just a grant program but a multi-stakeholder platform aimed at bridging Japan’s traditional finance sector with global Web3 innovation. The initiative will also feature four major events across Japan through 2026, including investor networking, policy panels and pitch competitions.
Hinza Asif, president of Asia Web3 Alliance Japan, said the partnership will help strengthen Japan’s position in the global tech ecosystem by empowering visionary founders.
The move comes amid rising institutional interest in XRP. Japan’s central bank has signaled all banks in the country will adopt XRP by late 2025. Meanwhile, Ripple is working to launch a stablecoin in Japan, and e-commerce giant Mercari has added XRP trading on its crypto platform.
