- SBI Holdings issued ¥10B bonds offering XRP incentives to retail investors.
- Bonds run on BOOSTRY’s ibet for Fin and trade via Osaka Digital Exchange’s START system.
- Move deepens SBI’s ties with Ripple and expands tokenized securities in Japan.
Japan-based financial services firm SBI Holdings has launched a ¥10 billion ($64.5 million) digital bond offering, incorporating XRP rewards for investors. The issuance, called SBI START Bonds, was announced on February 20, 2026, and will be fully recorded and managed on-chain using BOOSTRY’s ibet for Fin platform.
Blockchain-Based Bonds for Retail Investors
The three-year bonds carry an indicative annual yield between 1.85% and 2.45%, with interest paid semiannually. Retail investors and companies investing at least ¥100,000 ($650) through SBI VC Trade accounts qualify for XRP token incentives. For each ¥100,000 invested, participants receive approximately 200 yen worth of XRP at issuance and alongside each interest payment until 2029.
The bonds will enter secondary trading on March 25 via the Osaka Digital Exchange’s START trading system, enabling on-chain transfers rather than traditional securities settlement processes. The initiative represents one of Japan’s first retail-focused on-chain bond programs, combining conventional fixed-income returns with tokenized rewards.
Strategic Alignment With Ripple and Digital Assets
SBI Holdings has maintained long-standing ties to the XRP ecosystem, partnering with Ripple since 2016. The firm supports XRP-powered remittances, including cross-border transfers between Japan and the Philippines. Chairman and CEO Yoshitaka Kitao has previously stated that SBI holds roughly 9% of Ripple Labs, highlighting strategic alignment with the network.
Beyond XRP, SBI has worked with Circle to introduce USDC stablecoins in Japan and signed a memorandum with Ripple to distribute RLUSD stablecoins. The digital bond offering extends this integration by providing retail investors with a regulated framework connecting fixed-income securities with blockchain-based assets.
Implications for Tokenized Securities Markets
By pairing bonds with XRP rewards, SBI tests broader adoption of tokenized securities among traditional investors. The structured on-chain management reduces reliance on conventional registration methods while offering transparent distribution of interest and crypto incentives.
The initiative arrives as Ripple secures regulatory approvals in the UK and Luxembourg and expands partnerships globally, signaling a growing intersection of digital assets and regulated financial products. SBI’s offering highlights Japan’s gradual rollout of blockchain-based investment instruments for retail participants.
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