SBI Announces Major Crypto Exchange Acquisition in Singapore

Once the transaction is completed, Coinhako will become a consolidated subsidiary of the Japanese financial conglomerate, strengthening SBI’s footprint across Southeast Asia.

The deal is being executed through SBI Ventures Asset Pte. Ltd., a fully owned Singapore-based subsidiary of SBI. The structure includes both a fresh capital injection into the Coinhako Group and the purchase of existing shares from current investors. While a memorandum of understanding has been signed with Coinhako’s parent company, Holdbuild Pte., the final agreement remains subject to regulatory approval. Financial details, including the size of the investment and the exact ownership percentage, have not been disclosed.

Regulated Entry Into Singapore

Coinhako holds a Major Payment Institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore, giving SBI immediate access to one of Asia’s most tightly regulated and strategically important financial hubs. Singapore has positioned itself as a gateway for institutional digital asset activity, and the acquisition aligns with SBI’s broader ambition to expand regulated crypto infrastructure across the region.

SBI Chairman Yoshitaka Kitao said the goal is to build what he described as a “digital asset powerhouse” in Asia. The focus will extend beyond spot crypto trading to tokenized equities, stablecoins, and cross-border digital asset corridors linking multiple jurisdictions.

Integration Into SBI’s Crypto Ecosystem

Coinhako’s retail and institutional operations are expected to be integrated into SBI’s existing crypto framework. That ecosystem already includes institutional market maker B2C2, Japanese exchange SBI VC Trade, and AsiaNext, a joint venture focused on digital asset markets.

Founded more than a decade ago, Coinhako is considered a pioneer in Southeast Asia’s crypto landscape. In addition to its Singapore presence, the group owns Alpha Hako Ltd., a regulated entity in the British Virgin Islands, further expanding its international reach.

SBI’s Pattern of Strategic Acquisitions

The planned takeover follows a familiar playbook for SBI, which has consistently targeted majority stakes in regulated digital asset firms to fold them into its broader network.

In 2020, SBI acquired a 90% stake in UK-based market maker B2C2, which now serves as a key liquidity provider within the group. Between 2022 and 2023, SBI moved to take full control of BITPoint Japan after initially purchasing a majority stake, merging its operations with SBI VC Trade. In 2025, SBI VC Trade absorbed customer accounts from DMM Bitcoin following a security incident, consolidating its position in Japan’s retail crypto market.

SBI also led a $36 million Series A funding round for Zodia Custody, backed by Standard Chartered, and remains a significant shareholder in the global custody provider despite regulatory challenges that halted plans for a Japan-focused joint venture.

Amid speculation about its exposure to XRP, Chairman Yoshitaka Kitao recently clarified that SBI does not hold $10 billion worth of XRP tokens. Instead, the firm owns a 9% equity stake in Ripple Labs, representing a strategic private investment in the company’s long-term development rather than a direct bet on token price movements.

Expanding the Digital Asset Corridor

With the proposed Coinhako acquisition, SBI continues to position itself as a central node in what it calls a global digital asset corridor. By combining regulated exchanges, institutional liquidity, custody solutions, and cross-border infrastructure, the group is building an integrated model designed to serve both retail investors and institutional clients across Asia and beyond.

If approved, the transaction would mark another step in SBI’s aggressive expansion strategy, reinforcing Singapore’s role in its regional roadmap and further consolidating its influence in the evolving digital asset industry.

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