Ripple has introduced a grant initiative, distributing 200,000 XRP (approximately $150,000 at current XRP prices) to support Japanese startups building on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The program forms part of Ripple’s broader $1 billion XRPL grants commitment and aligns with its Asia–Pacific growth strategy.

The grants aim to catalyze local blockchain innovation through financial backing and technical support. Ripple's initiatives include partnerships, developer grants, startup investment, and community development. Notable focus areas include use cases in supply chain, finance, and NFTs, demonstrated by previous collaborations with SBI Ripple Asia and Tokyo-based HashKey DX,

Japan, recognized for its vibrant crypto ecosystem—where 18% of XRP is held on local exchanges—has become a key market for Ripple. The country’s proactive stance on XRP, with regulators clarifying its non-security status, creates a favorable environment for XRPL-based projects,

By allocating 200,000 XRP to local entrepreneurs, Ripple encourages Japanese innovators to develop real-world applications on the XRPL. This move supports the deployment of tokenized assets, decentralized apps, and NFT platforms on a publishes the ledger optimized for enterprise use. For startup founders, grants may be used to prototype products, enhance technical capabilities, ramp up marketing, or expand user adoption.

This approach reinforces Ripple's Asian foothold amid less certain U.S.…