As the Japanese yen approaches its weakest levels in the last four decades, Japanese companies have begun to show more interest in crypto assets to diversify their cash-heavy reserve structure. SBI VC Trade, the cryptocurrency arm of Tokyo-based SBI Holdings, announced that demand for Bitcoin and XRP from companies has increased.
Exchange rate pressure changes companies’ reserve preferences
SBI VC Trade said in a statement on Tuesday that the depreciation of the yen has led companies to invest in assets other than cash. The number of registered accounts of the company exceeded 2 million. This figure is approximately double the 2025 level. As one of the prominent platforms offering regulated cryptocurrency services in Japan, SBI VC Trade also serves institutional clients.
SBI VC Trade emphasizes that companies do not want to keep their reserves only in cash, which is why interest in assets such as Bitcoin and XRP is increasing.
The company also noted that demand for its corporate services has gained strength with the increase in companies distributing Bitcoin or XRP to shareholders as part of incentive programs. This trend shows that companies are starting to evaluate digital assets not only as an investment tool, but also as a means of corporate loyalty and reward.
Interest rate gap and yen weakness increase pressure
The main pressure on the market is the interest rate difference between the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of Japan. While the tight monetary policy line is maintained in the USA, the lagging interest rate outlook in Japan makes holding cash in yen less attractive. This situation may lead companies to turn to alternative assets that are seen as more durable.
According to US Commodity Futures Trading Commission data, hedge funds’ expectations for a decline against the yen increased to nearly 138 thousand contracts as of June 30. This level was one of the strongest negative positions since 2007. The fact that the dollar was around 162 yen in Asian transactions showed that the pressure on the currency continued.
Mini dictionary: Carry trading is the act of borrowing in a low-interest currency and investing in assets that offer higher returns. Yen has long been used as one of the prominent currencies in these transactions.
Shift to crypto through regulated channels accelerates
The picture that the market has followed in recent weeks also supports this movement. As the weak yen fuels carry trades, some of this capital flow now reaches the crypto market through regulated channels in Japan rather than through overseas platforms. This indicates that institutional demand is growing within more visible and registered structures.
As yen weakness pushes investors into higher-yielding areas, some of that flow is heading into regulated Japanese crypto channels.
Bitcoin traded around $62,650 on Tuesday. The weekly increase was 6.1 percent. The signals given by SBI VC Trade revealed that Japanese companies are looking for new tools in balance sheet management under foreign exchange pressure, and Bitcoin and XRP are becoming more prominent in this search.
