Japanese Asset Management Giant Plans to Issue XRP NFTs

Japan’s SBI Group has announced plans to issue non-fungible tokens (NFTs) on the XRP Ledger for the upcoming World Expo 2025 in Osaka. SBI Group is a financial service conglomerate based in Japan.

This initiative aims to integrate blockchain technology to enhance visitor interactions seamlessly.

XRP NFTs Target 28 Million Visitors

Using Ripple’s XRP Ledger, SBI will create and distribute visitor NFTs featuring MYAKU-MYAKU, the official character of the Expo. Attendees can obtain these digital collectibles by participating in Expo activities and utilizing the Expo mobile app.

Ripple’s VP of Corporate Strategy and Operations, Emi Yoshikawa, took to X social media to describe this initiative as a “huge” development for Ripple and the blockchain community.

Scheduled from April to October on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, the World Expo 2025 expects to draw an estimated 28 million visitors globally. Historically, World Expos illuminate scientific, economic, and technological advancements.

Reflecting this tradition, the Expo will specifically focus on connection, empowerment, and life preservation themes.

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Japan has a storied past hosting World Expos, including events in the 70s and 90s. Incorporating NFTs in this upcoming Expo is indeed innovative and strategically enhances visitor engagement, making the event more interactive and memorable.

“With an estimated 28 million attendees thats a lot of eyeballs to increase visibility of XRPL NFTs and the ability of it’s NFT functions to serve real world purposes,” XRPL validator Vet said.

Furthermore, there has been a surge in network activity on Ripple’s XRP Ledger, driven largely by NFT transactions. Since the launch of NFTs on Ripple’s XRP Ledger, there have been 699,590 NFT sales totaling $27.4 million.

This growing adoption highlights Ripple Ledger’s capacity for handling substantial transaction volumes. However, there has been a decline in sales, particularly since the fourth quarter of 2023.

Ripple Labs introduced the XLS-20 proposal in October 2022, allowing for the creation of NFTs on the XRP Ledger without smart contracts. This initiative aims to reduce the impact on XRPL performance and mitigate network congestion.

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Ripple’s $250 million NFT Creator Fund also plays a crucial role in supporting emerging artists. This initiative helps promote their art and integrate it within the NFT market.