SBI Holdings and Startale Advance Plans for a Regulated Yen Stablecoin

SBI Holdings and Startale Group partner to launch a regulated yen stablecoin supporting tokenized assets, compliant global settlement, and Japan’s digital finance growth.

Japan’s digital finance strategy is gaining momentum as SBI Holdings partners with Startale Group to develop a regulated yen-denominated stablecoin. The agreement is a sign of growing institutional confidence in blockchain-based financial infrastructure. Moreover, it indicates Japan’s willingness to strengthen its position in the area of compliant digital asset markets.

SBI and Startale Formalize Digital Yen Strategy

SBI Holdings, a Tokyo-listed financial conglomerate, entered into a memorandum of understanding with Startale Group to pursue the initiative. The partnership combines SBI’s established financial infrastructure with Startale’s expertise in Web3 development. Importantly, Startale has contributed to the Sony-backed Soneium blockchain network. Therefore, the cooperation encompasses both regulatory depth and high technical capability.

Yoshitaka Kitao, chairman and president of SBI Holdings, said the shift towards tokenization is irreversible. He stressed that digital assets will become more intertwined with traditional finance systems. Accordingly, the yen stablecoin stands as foundational infrastructure for a token economy. SBI plans to circulate the digital currency both in the domestic and international spheres to accelerate its adoption.

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The stablecoin will be in the form of a trust-based Type 3 Electronic Payment Instrument under Japanese law. This structure sidesteps the limit of the domestic remittance and fund balances of 100,000 yen. Consequently, the stablecoin can provide larger value transfers and enterprise settlement requirements. This regulatory classification enhances its suitability for institutional and cross-border use cases.

Issuance and redemption will be handled by Shinsei Trust & Banking, which is a subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank 100%. At the same time, SBI VC Trade will support the circulation as a licensed crypto asset exchange services provider. In addition, adoption by corporate and institutional investors will be promoted by other companies within the SBI Group. This coordinated framework emphasizes compliance and operational resiliency.

Compliance-Driven Stablecoin Targets Global Settlement Markets

The project will include the design of a programmable and globally-usable yen pegged stablecoin framework. It will comply with Japanese financial regulations and those of relevant overseas. As a result, it is expected that the stablecoin will enable cross-border financial connectivity and onchain payments. The launch is available in the second quarter of 2026, after the regulatory preparations.

Startale Group will be responsible for technology development, such as smart contract architecture and API design. It will also manage security systems, compliance tooling and ecosystem expansion. In parallel, SBI Holdings will coordinate the regulatory and distribution strategies. This sharing of responsibility is indicative of the respective strengths as established by each partner.

Startale CEO Sota Watanabe pointed to some wider applications of the digital yen on the blockchain. He pointed to possible use in tokenized asset distributions and automated agent-based payments. Accordingly, the stablecoin is considered a form of infrastructure for new on-chain economies. Global deployment is a strategic goal.

Overall, the partnership is an expression of a strategic approach to regulated integration of digital finance. By combining banking systems and blockchain technology, both companies hope to provide efficient and inclusive financial services. In addition, the project affirms the role of Japan in the global development of stablecoins. Ultimately, the regulated digital yen may have implications for future standards for tokenized assets and cross-border settlement.

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