SBI Holdings and Startale to Launch Regulated Yen Stablecoin by Q2 2026

TLDR

• SBI Holdings and Startale Group will launch a yen-pegged stablecoin by Q2 2026 for institutional use and global settlement.
• The stablecoin will be issued by Shinsei Trust & Banking and circulated through SBI VC Trade under Japan’s regulatory framework.
• Yoshitaka Kitao confirmed the initiative aligns with the shift toward a token economy combining blockchain and traditional finance.
• Startale sees the stablecoin powering on-chain finance, including payments between AI agents and tokenized asset distribution.
• Japan’s regulators have approved stablecoin projects like JPYC, and SBI also plans to launch Ripple USD (RLUSD) in 2026.

SBI Holdings will launch a Japanese yen-pegged stablecoin in partnership with Startale Group by the second quarter of 2026. The project aims to support global settlement and institutional use through a fully regulated framework. Both firms confirmed the stablecoin will be built for secure and compliant circulation across domestic and international markets.

Project to Support Global Settlement and Institutional Use

SBI Holdings is one of Japan’s leading financial groups with strong experience in banking, securities, and digital assets. The company will work with Startale, a blockchain firm known for developing the Sony-backed Soneium network. Together, they will issue a stablecoin backed by the Japanese yen for global use. Shinsei Trust & Banking, a subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank, will handle the issuance and redemption of the stablecoin.

SBI VC Trade, a licensed exchange operator, will manage the token’s circulation within regulated markets. Yoshitaka Kitao, Chairman and President of SBI Holdings, said the initiative supports a broader shift toward tokenized financial systems. He stated, “The transition to a ‘token economy’ is now an irreversible societal trend.” The goal is to combine traditional finance and blockchain into one financial ecosystem.

SBI will use its existing infrastructure and customer base to promote the new stablecoin both in Japan and abroad. Startale will contribute its Web3 development capabilities to ensure the token is blockchain-ready. The companies emphasized the regulated nature of the stablecoin throughout the announcement.

Stablecoin to Power Tokenized Finance and AI-Powered Use Cases

Startale CEO Sota Watanabe described the stablecoin as a foundational asset for on-chain transactions and smart contracts. He said, “It will play a central role in a fully on-chain world.” The company also sees use cases in payments between AI agents and tokenized asset distribution.

Startale recently launched Startale USD (USDSC), a dollar-backed stablecoin for institutional liquidity, payments, and incentives. USDSC and the new yen stablecoin are expected to complement each other in Startale’s digital asset ecosystem. This will support a 24/7 tokenized exchange planned by both companies.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency has supported efforts to develop regulated yen-pegged stablecoins. It recently approved JPYC as the first stablecoin under the new legal framework. The agency also welcomed collaboration between major banks for joint stablecoin projects. SBI previously partnered with Ripple to introduce RLUSD, a U.S. dollar stablecoin set to launch in Japan in 2026. The new yen stablecoin will expand SBI’s digital currency offerings in the coming years. Both projects reflect the firm’s continued focus on regulated crypto adoption.

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