SBI Holdings is partnering with Startale Group to develop a fully regulated Peg yen stablecoin, expected to launch in Q2 2026, to support asset Tokenize and global payments.
Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Holdings and web3 infrastructure company Startale Group have signed a memorandum of Mnemonics (MoU) to develop a fully regulated stablecoin Peg to the Japanese yen, targeting the Tokenize asset market and global payments. This move comes as Japan accelerates the development of a legal framework for stablecoin issuance with the participation of licensed financial institutions.
According to the agreement, the stablecoin will be issued and redeemed by Shinsei Trust & Banking, a wholly owned subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank. Simultaneously, SBI VC Trade, a licensed cryptocurrency exchange provider, will support the circulation of the stablecoin in the market. The project is expected to launch in Q2 2026, subject to regulatory approval and completion of compliance requirements.
Mr. Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, Chairman and CEO of SBI Holdings, stated that the issuance of the Peg yen stablecoin with Startale will Vai as a foundation for Japan's transition to a Token Economy . He affirmed that by circulating this stablecoin both domestically and globally, the goal is to significantly accelerate the provision of digital financial services fully integrated with traditional finance.
A legal framework that promotes development.
The initiative comes as Japan is accelerating its efforts to formalize the issuance of stablecoins within a clear legal framework, placing trust banks and licensed institutions at the center of the onchain payment infrastructure. The Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) recently launched the Payment Innovation Project, a legal sandbox for blockchain-based payment methods.
The first official pilot program supported the Peg yen stablecoin issued by three Japanese megabanks, including Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp, and Mizuho Bank.
In this context, Startale and SBI's efforts to complement bank-led programs by introducing a programmable digital yen, issued by a trust bank, are designed for cross-border payments, Tokenize stocks, and Tokenize real asset flows (RWAs).
SBI is emerging as a central player in the Japanese stablecoin ecosystem with its multi-currency strategy encompassing both USD and yen- Peg assets. In March, SBI VC Trade integrated Circle 's USDC stablecoin into its platform, becoming one of the first exchanges in Japan to offer cryptocurrency trading using USDC amid the country's easing of stablecoin regulations.
On August 21, Ripple announced it will launch the RLUSD stablecoin in Japan in early 2026 through a partnership with SBI VC Trade, providing institutions and users with a managed stablecoin for enterprise-grade use cases.
