SBI Holdings and the Solana Foundation announced on July 13, 2026, a strategic partnership to create a Japan-originated on-chain financial market. As part of the deal, the Solana Foundation will join SBI R3 Japan, which will be renamed SBI Solana Global (tentative). The new entity will drive five business areas centered on stablecoin issuance and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization on Solana, aiming to connect Japan's financial assets and legal infrastructure with Solana's global network, positioning Asia as a hub for on-chain finance.
Core businesses: JPYSC and RWA tokenization
The core of the venture is JPYSC, a yen-denominated stablecoin issued by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank under a trust-type electronic payment method (Type 3 under the Payment Services Act). Unlike money-transfer-type stablecoins, JPYSC is not subject to issuance caps, making it suitable for large-scale settlements by institutional investors and corporations. The stablecoin began limited availability on SBI VC Trade accounts on June 24, 2026. The other pillar is RWA tokenization, covering corporate bonds, commercial paper, funds, and real estate, with end-to-end support from issuance to distribution on Solana.
Why Solana? Speed, cost, ecosystem
SBI cited Solana as "the world's fastest processing speed, overwhelmingly low cost, and one of the largest ecosystems" among layer-1 blockchains. The group had already adopted Solana for stablecoin settlements via its subsidiary B2C2 in April 2026. The new company aims to provide integrated support for issuance, distribution, and settlement, not just technology. Shareholders include SBI Holdings and Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), leveraging their financial base alongside Solana's tech. SBI R3 Japan, the predecessor, was established in April 2019 as a joint venture with R3, with SMFG joining in 2020. Details on the Solana Foundation's stake, R3's role, and launch timelines remain undisclosed.
SBI's broader digital asset push
The partnership is part of SBI's accelerating digital asset strategy. On June 25, 2026, SBI agreed to fully acquire crypto exchange Bitbank for ¥46.7 billion. Post-acquisition, combined assets under custody of SBI VC Trade and Bitbank are estimated at ¥1.1 trillion, making it the largest domestic crypto exchange. Additionally, from July 16, 2026, SBI VC Trade will start accepting applications for a lending service offering 3% annual yield on JPYSC, further advancing the stablecoin's real-world use.