Japan’s Largest Resale Platform Now Supports XRP

Mercoin, the crypto trading subsidiary of Japanese e-commerce firm Mercari Inc., has announced the addition of XRP to its platform. Starting today, April 24, XRP is now available on Mercoin. This addition marks the third crypto asset available for trading on the platform, following Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). XRP will be available for purchase starting from just 1 yen (about $0.007). Users can use various payment methods, including bank recharge balances, Mercari sales, and Mercari points, making it easier for first-time traders to get started with small amounts. The introduction of XRP aligns with Mercoin's mission to provide more trading options and enhance accessibility for its growing user base. Continued Growth and Success Among Inexperienced Traders Since its launch in March 2023, Mercoin has focused on attracting new crypto users, with a significant emphasis on simplicity and security. The firm started by offering only Bitcoin at launch and later added Ethereum 14 months after its launch. The company’s service is showing success, surpassing 3 million users by December 2024, just under two years after its debut. Notably, 90% of users on the platform are newcomers to crypto trading. Now, Mercoin is introducing XRP, the fourth biggest crypto asset, as its beginner users become more familiar with BTC and ETH. The official announcement emphasized that XRP is one of the most traded assets in the global crypto market. Indeed, XRP boasts a 24-hour trading volume of $4.3 billion, the sixth largest in the market. Interestingly, Mercoin noted that it plans to explore various avenues to further promote XRP awareness in Japan, expanding the pool of XRP enthusiasts. Industry Reaction to XRP Listing on Mercoin The recent announcement from Mercoin has caught the attention of the crypto community, particularly due to the influence of its parent company, Mercari Inc.  Emi Yoshikawa, former Ripple VP of Strategic Initiatives, highlighted the importance of Mercoin's decision to list XRP . Yoshikawa pointed out that Mercari is Japan's leading marketplace app and the country's largest resale platform, with millions of users who maintain a balance from selling unused items (MAU: 20+ million). She also mentioned that users can now convert their balances or Mercari points into XRP starting from just ¥1. Additionally, Yoshikawa emphasized that almost all users purchasing crypto through Mercari are newcomers, making this a strong example of crypto reaching mainstream audiences beyond the typical crypto crowd. https://twitter.com/emy_wng/status/1915399440099406146