Ripple’s XRP token may have an unexpected tailwind. Three major jurisdictions are preparing regulatory and adoption changes. These changes could change how institutions use digital assets in 2026.
In an exclusive interview with BeInCrypto, Bitget Wallet CMO Jamie Elkaleh said Japan is likely to have the biggest impact on XRP adoption in the near term.
“Japan already has a live remittance corridor that uses XRP as a bridge asset. Most notably, SBI Remit operates a corridor that clears remittances from Japan to bank accounts in Southeast Asia,” he said. Because these corridors are already operational rather than experimental, they “shorten the path from adoption to visible use.”
Sponsored Sponsored
UAE emerges as a market with high potential
However, El-Kare added that the UAE is quickly emerging as another high-potential market. The country’s crypto asset regime, through the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) and the UAE Central Bank, has created a customized environment for crypto payment infrastructure. “A regulatory regime tailored to crypto assets and Ripple Labs’ growing presence in the region make Ripple Labs a strong candidate for our next deployment,” he said.
Meanwhile, Europe is preparing for long-term scalability through the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework. Although this regulation is currently in force, regulators are still finalizing some secondary rules. The extension of the transition period until 2026 means that the framework is still maturing. But El Cale warned that its rollout could take longer, as “institutions tend to move cautiously and the rails are still solidifying.”
Real-world use of XRP drives adoption
El Cale said the advantage of Ripple is that Japan has already moved beyond the pilot project. “SBI Remit’s remittance operations using XRP are live and accessible, demonstrating that XRP is being used in a real production environment,” he explained. This means that scaling up has become a matter of quantity rather than validation.
The UAE and the wider MENA region are nearing a tipping point. The regulatory framework is being adjusted. The VARA license, Ripple’s DFSA license in Dubai, and partnership in Bahrain reduce compliance and legal hurdles towards a formal settlement. Although these trends have not yet reached the scale of Japan, “the ecosystem is ready to expand.”
Given this, Elcale said progress is likely to be slow in Europe. “With MiCA and related regulatory clarification, banks and money transfer companies are getting ready, but financial institutions are likely to adopt large-scale XRP-based payments in the future,” he said.
Regulatory clarity could trigger gradual market movement
Looking ahead, Elcale believes that regulatory clarification in 2026 will be reflected in XRP market price trends and could unfold at certain stages throughout the year. “In regions with existing corridors and active projects, new flows could materialize within months of the regulatory green light. In other regions, particularly Europe, the transition from transparency to scale could take 12 to 24 months. Institutions will need to adjust their financial policies, integrate their systems, and launch live XRP payments,” he said.
Ultimately, BitGet Wallet executives said price movements will follow real-world adoption, noting that “markets tend to react to evidence of actual usage, liquidity, and adoption metrics, not just regulatory announcements.”
These changes create rare alignment across Asia, the Middle East and Europe, combining regulatory clarity and operational momentum. For XRP investors and crypto watchers, 2026 could be the year when token utility, rather than speculation, starts to drive market value.
