Ripple Launches $200K Grants for Japanese Web3 Startups Building on XRP Ledger
Ripple is ramping up its investment in Asia’s Web3 future with a new grant initiative focused on supporting Japanese blockchain startups. Announced on June 9, the program aims to accelerate innovation on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) by offering grants of up to $200,000 per project over the next year.
Team Ripple
The initiative is being rolled out in partnership with Web3 Salon, a venture backed by Japan’s External Trade Organization (JETRO) and powered by the Asia Web3 Alliance Japan. The goal: lower the barriers for Web3 entrepreneurs in Japan, a country known for its deep talent pool and strong regulatory clarity—but also its challenges for early-stage startups.
Selected projects will receive not only funding but also access to Ripple’s global network of partners, mentors, and technical experts. The program targets startups working in key areas like decentralized finance (DeFi), real-world asset tokenization, and digital payments—all aligned with Ripple’s broader push to expand XRPL’s use cases across Asia.
Web3 Salon will play a hands-on role in founder support by organizing workshops, investor meetups, and educational events. Four community events are scheduled through March 2026, featuring startup pitch sessions, panel discussions, and training on cross-border expansion, compliance, and product growth.
The grants fall under Ripple’s Japan and Korea Fund, part of a multi-year commitment to growing XRPL adoption in the region. Projects will be evaluated based on their technical quality, potential for impact, and alignment with Ripple’s strategic goals.
This move also highlights Ripple’s growing footprint in Japan. The company already has deep ties with SBI Holdings, one of the nation’s largest financial groups and a longtime Ripple partner. SBI Remit, Japan’s leading money transfer service, uses RippleNet for international payments, and SBI VC Trade offers XRP trading to both institutional and retail clients.
XRP is also gaining ground in the consumer market. Platforms like Mercari now allow users to earn or use XRP through their apps, and large firms such as Open House Group accept XRP for real estate purchases.