Key Takeaways:

Ripple is making a major move to empower early-stage blockchain startups in Japan. In collaboration with Web3 Salon and supported by JETRO, this initiative positions Japan at the center of Ripple’s regional Web3 push, with major funding, mentorship, and community engagement in the pipeline.

The new partnership with Web3 Salon underscores what they are: Japan is prepared to take the lead when it comes to the next wave of digital asset innovation in the Asian region. Ripple will provide Japanese early-stage blockchain startups with up to $200,000 each to develop products for the XRP Ledger (XRPL) — an open-source blockchain designed for payments, decentralized finance (DeFi) and tokenized assets, through its new XRPL Japan and Korea Fund.

This campaign is not just about the money. It’s also a long-term investment in the blockchain space in Japan, one of the most highly regulated but promising markets in crypto. It would include investments, technical support and help with getting a toehold in the Japanese market for select investments that coincide with Ripple’s own focus.

Ripple’s grants aren’t open-ended. To be selected, startups must demonstrate:

Selected projects will benefit from more than financial backing. Ripple will directly oversee the grant process to ensure impact and offer access to its extensive global network of investors, partners, and customers.

These Japan-specific grants are part of Ripple’s broader $1B XRP developer fund, which aims to accelerate adoption of the XRPL. Japan is one of the first earmarked for targeted support from the fund as a result of its stringent regulatory environment, mature fintech industry and the high level of institutional interest in blockchains.

Ripple is focusing on capital and infrastructure and Web3 Salon is leading the startup enablement. That includes:

This double track system offers startups support to prototype faster, smarter and more in-line with Japan’s often confusing regulatory environments. The salon serves as a conduit — not only for startups and investors, but also for new blockchain solutions and traditional finance.

To maximize impact and ecosystem visibility, Ripple and Web3 Salon will be co-organizing a series of four large-scale Web3 events in Japan by March 2026. These events will include:

The activities are designed to promote leading startups, and intensify the conversation between public bodies and the promoters of innovation from the private sector..

Japan is one of the few countries that provides clear and structured crypto regulation — a major attraction to Web3 entrepreneurs. Its Financial Services Agency (FSA) has set a good precedent for what a good crypto exchange and token environment should look like (rather than a race to the bottom by regulators), and its ruling has brought in serious builders who want the more long-term stable enviroment Japans has to offer.

But that very structure can have its hindrances. The contribution of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) and the Asia Web3 Alliance Japan is also critical in assisting startups with regulation and bureaucracy.

This Japan initiative is the latest in Ripple’s wider push across Asia. In recent years, Ripple has:

Investing in Japan’s developer ecosystem has not only enabled Ripple to create vibrant, homegrown innovation, but it has also given the company a springboard for bringing XRPL into Asia.

Ripple’s move has already drawn positive attention across the region. Hinza Asif, President of Asia Web3 Alliance Japan, described Japan as “one of the most exciting and challenging markets for Web3.” He noted that the partnership strengthens the bridge between global innovation and local infrastructure.

Christina Chan, RippleX Senior Director, emphasized the long-term goal: “Together, we hope to fuel innovation and support the next generation of leaders.”

While many global crypto companies are scaling back amid market volatility, Ripple’s deep-rooted investment in Japan suggests a confident, long-term bet on Asia’s crypto future — one where regulatory clarity and real-world use cases will define the winners.