Japan Banks On Blockchain As SBI Issues Tokenized Retail Bonds
23 February 2026 - 08:37 CET
By Christina Pantin
Japanese investment giant SBI Holdings has added another brick to its grand design of merging traditional finance with the crypto ecosystem. The firm announced the launch of blockchain-issued and managed bonds aimed squarely at domestic retail investors.
Dubbed a 'comprehensive internet financial group', SBI continues to build Japan's token economy while keeping a firm, profitable grip on its legacy banking business. The firm owns a 9% stake in stablecoin issuer Ripple Labs, which it routinely shoehorns into regulated financial products. In a rather transparent sweetener to lure crypto-curious retail investors, customers buying the security token bonds will receive XRP in an amount corresponding to their subscription.