SBI Holdings and Startale Advance Japan’s Digital Yen Plans

SBI Holdings, a major financial group listed in Tokyo, has partnered with blockchain company Startale Group to develop a stablecoin backed by the Japanese yen. 

This project aims to bring together strong financial experience and modern blockchain technology. The stablecoin is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2026.

A Partnership Built on Strength and Experience

SBI Holdings is a key part of Japan’s financial system. It operates across banking, securities, and digital assets. Its size and regulatory experience make it well-suited to lead a national stablecoin project. 

Startale Group, on the other hand, contributes technical knowledge to blockchain and Web3 systems. The company is also involved in building the Sony-backed Soneium network. This initiative adds credibility to its technology background.

The planned yen stablecoin will be designed to meet Japan’s regulatory standards. It will support domestic and international payments, as well as settlement between institutions. 

Trusted Firms to Manage and Expand the Stablecoin System

As announced, Shinsei Trust and Banking, a unit of SBI Shinsei Bank, will manage the creation and redemption of the stablecoin. This will ensure that users can exchange the token for Japanese yen clearly and reliably.

SBI VC Trade, which is licensed to operate crypto asset services, will help distribute and circulate the stablecoin. This structure places trusted and regulated companies at the center of the project, which is important for market confidence.

Meanwhile, Startale has already launched a US dollar stablecoin used for payments, rewards, and liquidity on the Soneium network. The upcoming yen stablecoin will work together with this dollar token. 

Both currencies are planned to support a new tokenized stock exchange that operates at all hours. With both yen and dollar pegged stablecoins available, the platform can serve users in Japan and abroad. 

It also supports future use cases such as automated payments between software systems and the distribution of digital investment products.

SBI and Japan Build on Strong Stablecoin Experience

SBI Holdings has prior experience with stablecoins. The company has announced plans to introduce a US dollar stablecoin developed with Ripple to the Japanese market in 2026. This background gives SBI practical knowledge in handling digital currencies under regulation.

At the same time, Japan is actively supporting the growth of yen-based stablecoins. Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has approved JPYC as the country’s first local yen stablecoin. Regulators are also backing a joint stablecoin project that involves major banks, including Mizuho Bank, MUFG, and SMBC.

As Japan upgrades its financial system, these moves place the country in a strong position to lead the development of regulated and trusted stablecoins.