SBI Holdings, one of Japan’s leading financial groups, has launched a new blockchain-based bond issuance aimed at retail investors. In this new financial product, classic fixed-income investment bonds are combined with crypto asset incentives.
10 Billion Yen Tokenized Bond Issuance
The bonds issued by SBI Holdings will be deposited on the ibet for Fin platform and will have a total volume of 10 billion yen (approximately $64.5 million). These bonds have a three-year maturity and offer a fixed yield, paid twice a year, ranging from 1.85 percent to 2.45 percent. Managing bonds on blockchain indicates the combination of classical securities markets and digital asset technology.
XRP Rewards and Benefits for Investors
Eligible investors who invest in fixed-income bonds will receive additional XRP token rewards. Individuals and companies who purchase bonds of 100 thousand yen or more and have an account at SBI VC Trade will be able to benefit from this reward program. Investors benefit from approximately 200 yen worth of XRP for every 100 thousand yen invested. Rewards will be distributed at the time of bond issuance and with each interest payment through 2029.
Secondary market transactions of the bonds are expected to start on March 25 through the Osaka Digital Exchange’s special trading system called START. This step is seen as one of the examples of the gradual expansion of the tokenized securities market in Japan.
This move by the company also highlights SBI Holdings’ long-standing relationship with the XRP ecosystem. SBI Holdings established a strategic partnership with Ripple in 2016 and launched XRP-based cross-border payment services in this context. Chairman and CEO Yoshitaka Kitao had previously stated that SBI Holdings owns approximately 9 percent of Ripple Labs.
SBI Holdings, which was founded under the umbrella of SoftBank in 1999 and became independent in 2006, currently operates in the fields of finance, brokerage, digital assets and blockchain infrastructure, and its annual revenue exceeds 8 billion dollars.
SBI Holdings had previously worked with Circle to launch US Dollar-pegged USDC in Japan. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed with Ripple for the distribution of the company’s stablecoin called RLUSD in Japan.
SBI Holdings, which uses blockchain technology in its bond product and offers crypto rewards, wants to gauge how traditional investors will approach offerings that combine classic fixed income products with new blockchain-based instruments.
Ripple’s International License Expansion
Ripple has also been increasing its presence in regulated markets recently. This month, the company received its electronic money institution license and crypto asset registration in the United Kingdom from the financial authority. Ripple, which also received preliminary approval in Luxembourg for a similar license, is preparing to expand its payment activities in Europe. In the USA, the company applied for a national bank license in July 2025. Various regulatory approvals have also been obtained in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; It is expanding its operations in the region with new business partners such as Zand Bank and Mamo.
