SBI Holdings Accelerates Crypto Expansion With Bitbank Deal SBI Holdings has officially kicked off discussions with Bitbank Co., Ltd., the operator of the “bitbank” cryptocurrency exchange, over a potential capital and business alliance that could see Bitbank become a consolidated subsidiary. According to local media outlet CoinPost, the deal is still in its early stages , with due diligence and internal approvals underway, while the structure and timing of any acquisition remain to be finalized. This move follows closely on the heels of SBI VC Trade’s April 2026 absorption of Bitpoint Japan, underscoring a notably aggressive consolidation push across Japan’s digital asset industry. As a result, these back-to-back deals signal SBI’s clear strategy to strengthen its dominance in the domestic crypto market while building a more tightly integrated, end-to-end ecosystem. SBI and Ripple’s Deepening Alliance Signals a Bold Push Into Asia’s Digital Finance Future At the core of SBI’s wider strategy is its long-standing partnership with Ripple, a key player in blockchain-based global payments and remittances. Their relationship is built on three main pillars that continue to deepen collaboration across investment, technology, and real-world financial infrastructure. SBI holds an estimated 9% stake in Ripple Labs , making it one of Ripple’s largest external shareholders and giving it both meaningful financial exposure and a degree of influence in Ripple’s long-term direction. Beyond investment, the two firms are tightly linked through SBI Ripple Asia , a joint venture launched in 2016 to drive adoption of Ripple’s cross-border payment technology across Asia. This initiative has focused on markets such as Japan, South Korea, China, and Southeast Asia, working to improve the speed and efficiency of settlement systems for banks and financial institutions. More recently, SBI Ripple Asia has made clear technical strides, launching an XRP Ledger–based token issuance platform designed to streamline digital asset transactions. The firm has also teamed up with blockchain infrastructure provider DSRV to explore improved cross-border payment corridors between Japan and South Korea, with the XRP Ledger positioned as a key settlement layer. At the same time, SBI VC Trade is laying groundwork for broader expansion following its memorandum of understanding with Ripple on RLUSD integration in Japan, a development that could accelerate stablecoin adoption within a tightly regulated environment. Therefore, SBI’s acquisitions and deepening alignment with Ripple point to a deliberate strategy of building a central role in Asia’s emerging financial stack, where traditional banking rails, digital assets, and blockchain settlement are steadily converging.
