- SBI Holdings and the Solana Foundation are launching a strategic partnership to expand onchain financial services in Japan.
- The venture will support stablecoins, tokenized real-world assets, and institutional blockchain infrastructure on Solana.
- SBI is also expanding its digital asset strategy with new crypto investments and a lending product for its yen-backed stablecoin.
SBI Holdings has deepened its commitment to blockchain technology by forming a strategic partnership with the Solana Foundation to help build an onchain financial market in Japan. As part of the agreement, the Solana Foundation will acquire a stake in SBI R3 Japan, strengthening the companies’ long-term collaboration.
The joint venture will also introduce a new identity, with SBI R3 Japan expected to operate under the name SBI Solana Global. Together with shareholders SBI Holdings and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, the company plans to accelerate the adoption of blockchain-powered financial services across Japan and beyond.
SBI Solana Global to Focus on Stablecoins and Tokenized Assets
Under the new strategy, SBI Solana Global will support the issuance and distribution of stablecoins, including JPYSC, SBI’s yen-backed stablecoin. The company also plans to tokenize a wide range of real-world assets, including corporate bonds, commercial paper, investment funds, and real estate.
Beyond tokenization, the venture intends to build cross-border settlement infrastructure that could improve the speed and efficiency of international transactions. The move reflects growing interest among traditional financial institutions in using blockchain technology for real-world financial markets.
Institutional Finance and AI Payments Take Center Stage
The partnership extends beyond tokenized assets. SBI Solana Global will also develop onchain financial services tailored for institutional investors while building payment infrastructure capable of supporting AI-driven transactions.
By choosing the Solana blockchain, the venture aims to leverage the network’s high throughput and low transaction costs for enterprise-grade financial applications. The collaboration highlights Solana’s expanding role as financial institutions continue exploring blockchain-based settlement and payment systems.
SBI Continues Expanding Its Crypto Strategy
The announcement follows SBI’s recent launch of JPYSC, Japan’s first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin. The company also revealed that applications will open on July 16 for a new 12-week lending product offering a 3% annual yield on JPYSC deposits through SBI VC Trade.
SBI has significantly increased its investments across the digital asset sector in recent months. Last week, the company became the sole investor in Gauntlet’s $125 million Series C funding round and participated in EDX Markets’ $76 million Series C. Earlier this year, SBI also acquired Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Bitbank for nearly $289 million, reinforcing its broader strategy to become a major player in the global onchain finance ecosystem.
