XRP Could Be Lining Up for a 2026 Tailwind — And Few People Are Noticing
Something interesting is brewing around Ripple’s XRP — and it’s not hype. It’s regulation, infrastructure, and real adoption lining up across three major regions: Japan, the UAE, and Europe.
In a conversation with BeInCrypto, Bitget Wallet CMO Jamie Elkaleh pointed out that Japan may deliver the first major spark.
Japan isn’t just talking about XRP — it’s already using it.
SBI Remit’s live corridors send money from Japan straight into Southeast Asian bank accounts with XRP acting as the bridge asset. No pilots. No testing arena. Just real rails, live today.
That means the jump from “adoption” to “visible usage” is much shorter than most people realize.
But Japan isn’t alone.
The UAE: Quietly Becoming the Dark Horse
Elkaleh highlighted the UAE as a fast-emerging power player.
Between VARA, the UAE Central Bank’s oversight, and Ripple deepening its footprint in Dubai and Bahrain, the region is building a regulatory environment designed for crypto payments.
It’s not yet Japan-level volume, but the trajectory? Strong.
Ripple licensing through DFSA, compliant corridors forming across MENA, and a regulatory climate that invites innovation — the UAE looks poised for an XRP breakout moment.
Europe: The Slow Burner
Europe is playing the long game with its MiCA framework.
The rules are in place, but secondary regulations and transition periods stretch well into 2026.
Institutions there move cautiously, and Elkaleh expects XRP deployment to take longer — likely 12 to 24 months after clarity lands.
Why This Matters for XRP Holders
The most important takeaway?
Price moves tend to follow real-world usage, not headlines.
And according to Elkaleh:
Japan is already delivering real settlement activity
The UAE is approaching a regulatory tipping point
Europe is preparing the plumbing for long-term scale
If these pieces fall into place, 2026 might be the first year where XRP’s utility — not speculation — drives the narrative.
A rare alignment:
Asia’s momentum + MENA’s regulation + Europe’s scalability = A potential multi-region adoption wave.
For investors watching utility-driven projects, XRP may be heading into one of its most important cycles yet.
