Japan’s stablecoin rules take effect June 13, 2026, refining the EPI framework for RLUSD and foreign stablecoins in Japan.
Author: Akshay
19th May 2026. Japan’s Stablecoin Rules take full operational effect on June 13, 2026, while a viral social media claim about a June 1 foreign stablecoin +opening misstates the timeline.
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Japan's Financial System Will Recognize Ripple's RLUSD Stablecoin Japan’s Financial Services Agency has officially recognized foreign-issued stablecoins as legitimate electronic payment methods under domestic law. This regulatory shift, effective June 1, 2026, allows the full https://t.co/Mkb0sVsJud
11:46 AM·May 19, 2026
Steady attention without excessive speculation.
The post, published by non-affiliated account @RippleXity on X, claimed Japan’s Financial Services Agency had just “opened the door” for foreign stablecoins. In reality, foreign-issued stablecoins like RLUSD have been operating in Japan since March 2026 through licensed intermediaries. As a result, the tweet’s “just in” framing does not match the actual regulatory timeline.
Japan’s Stablecoin Rules classified fiat-pegged stablecoins as Electronic Payment Instruments (EPIs) when the original PSA amendments took effect in June 2023. Because of this classification, foreign-issued stablecoins are not treated as securities. Instead, they fall under payment instrument regulations managed by the FSA.
Under Japan’s Stablecoin Rules, foreign issuers cannot sell directly to Japanese retail users. Instead, a registered Japanese EPI Exchange Service Provider must intermediate every transaction. That intermediary then ensures 100% reserves, AML/CFT compliance, and on-demand redemption at par value.
SBI VC Trade became the first company to obtain this license. It began handling USDC in March 2025 and subsequently launched RLUSD distribution on March 31, 2026, after signing an August 2025 memorandum of understanding with Ripple.
Japan stablecoin classification: EPI vs securities framework
The 2025 amendments, formally Act No. 66 of 2025, refine the existing EPI framework in several ways. They introduce new intermediary licensing categories and also expand the FSA’s supervisory powers. In addition, reserve rules get more flexible, so intermediaries can hold up to 50% of reserves in government bonds or other low-risk assets within trust-type structures.
According to a Global Law Experts summary, the amendments also strengthen oversight of cross-border stablecoin flows. Meanwhile, the FSA consulted on draft rules for stablecoin reserve bonds in January 2026, with the consultation closing in February.
These changes are refinements to an already-functioning system, not a brand-new opening. Consequently, claims of a sudden regulatory shift on June 1 are misleading.
Timeline: Japan’s gradual stablecoin regulatory rollout from the 2022 PSA amendments to RLUSD distribution and the 2026 refined EPI framework
Japan’s Diet approves amendments to the Payment Services Act, formally defining fiat-backed stablecoins as “electronic payment instruments” under Japanese law.
The original PSA amendments become operational, allowing regulated foreign stablecoin distribution through licensed EPI Exchange Service Providers under strict reserve and compliance rules.
SBI VC Trade becomes Japan’s first licensed EPI Exchange Service Provider authorized to handle foreign stablecoins including USDC.
Japan enacts refined PSA amendments introducing intermediary licenses, reserve flexibility for trust structures, enhanced supervisory powers, and domestic asset retention requirements.
Ripple and SBI Holdings sign an agreement to distribute RLUSD in Japan through SBI VC Trade’s regulated infrastructure.
Japan’s Financial Services Agency launches public consultations covering reserve asset eligibility and stricter criteria for foreign-issued bonds within stablecoin reserve frameworks.
RLUSD officially becomes available to Japanese users through SBI VC Trade under Japan’s already-active EPI regulatory pathway.
The FSA announces that updated Comprehensive Guidelines implementing the refined PSA amendments will begin applying from June 2026.
Cabinet orders and ordinances finalize the operational rollout of Japan’s updated stablecoin framework, expanding flexibility for regulated foreign stablecoin distribution.
RLUSD distribution in Japan runs entirely through SBI VC Trade’s regulated platform. Since Ripple does not issue or sell directly to Japanese users, all transactions go through the licensed intermediary. The stablecoin operates on both Ethereum and the XRP Ledger natively.
As of February 2026, RLUSD held approximately $1.568 billion in reserves backing 1.49 billion tokens. Furthermore, the stablecoin maintains a 1:1 USD peg with monthly attestations, according to secondary reports from industry trackers.
SBI VC Trade CEO Tomohiko Kondo said in August 2025 that “the introduction of RLUSD will not just expand the option of stablecoins in the Japanese market, but is a major step forward in the reliability and convenience of stablecoins in the Japanese market.”
The @RippleXity post attracted just 13 likes and 271 views. No Bloomberg, Reuters, Nikkei Asia, or CoinPost coverage matches its claims. Similarly, CoinDesk and other outlets covered the Ripple-SBI partnership extensively in 2025 but never mentioned a new June 1 regulatory event.
The confusion likely stems from conflating two separate things. First, there is the longstanding EPI framework that has allowed foreign stablecoins since 2023. Second, there is the June 13 implementation date for the 2025 amendments. Neither of these matches the tweet’s “just in” framing.
No official FSA gazette entry or guidance document dated May 2026 references a June 1 opening for foreign stablecoins. Ripple has not publicly confirmed any new filings tied to the June 2026 date either.
Several questions still remain about the June 13 implementation. Whether the amendments introduce a streamlined pathway for additional foreign stablecoins beyond the current intermediary model is still unknown. Exact approval timelines for new issuers have not been disclosed, either.
Japanese banks have also expressed caution about rapid foreign stablecoin inflows. In January 2026, the FSA proposed strict bond standards for stablecoin reserves, which signals continued conservative oversight.
On the other hand, community sentiment on X and Reddit views Japan’s stablecoin rules positively. Most commenters see SBI’s first-mover status and the EPI framework as validation of Ripple’s regulatory strategy. Analysts also highlight enterprise use cases for RLUSD in payments and remittances across Asia.
The June 13 amendments will formalize expanded reserve flexibility and stronger supervisory tools. For RLUSD, which already operates under the current framework, the practical changes may therefore be modest in the near term.
The bigger story is that Japan has built one of the most structured stablecoin regulatory environments globally. Foreign stablecoins are allowed under Japan stablecoin rules, but only through licensed intermediaries with strict reserve and compliance requirements.
Investors and traders should verify claims about regulatory changes through official FSA channels rather than relying on social media posts. This is not financial advice.
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