Japan’s SBI to Launch Yen-Pegged Stablecoin with Startale: What’s Next in 2026?

SBI Holdings, a major Japanese financial conglomerate, has revealed an innovative partnership with blockchain company Startale Group to launch a Yen-pegged Stablecoin. The move is an important step in integrating conventional finance and digital currency services. The stablecoin will be launched in the second quarter of 2026 and will be a regulated, fully-backed token, used for global settlement and institutional use.

SBI and Startale’s Strategic Partnership

SBI Holdings, a Tokyo Stock Exchange listed company, has partnered with Startale in an attempt to combine their strengths. The established presence of SBI in the Japanese financial market combined with the experience of Startale in the Web3 and blockchain technologies will provide a solid base to the new stablecoin. Startale has a reputation of having developed the Sony-sponsored Soneium network along with them which adds credibility to this new venture.

The Chairman of SBI Holdings, Yoshitaka Kitao, underlined that the transition to a token economy is irreversible, and “by circulating it both domestically and globally, we aim to dramatically accelerate the movement toward providing digital financial services that are fully integrated with traditional finance.” 

Key Features of the Yen-Pegged Stablecoin

The unnamed stablecoin will be completely regulated to make sure it complies with the strict financial regulations of Japan. It will be issued and redeemed by Shinsei Trust & Banking, a subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank. Moreover, it will be circulated by SBI VC Trade, an authorized crypto exchange.

The yen-pegged stablecoin will be a supplement to the USDSC (Startale USD), a dollar-denominated stablecoin, which Startale had already released. These two tokens, together, are the integral parts of the future 24/7 tokenized stock exchange of Startale.

Global and Institutional Impact 

The yen-pegged stablecoin is not merely for daily payments but will be integral in powering on-chain transactions. Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale, stated “In particular, we see enormous potential in enabling payments between AI agents and powering distributions for tokenized assets, both of which will soon become reality.” This is exactly in line with the vision of SBI and Startale to take the limits of a fully digitized financial ecosystem. It is important to highlight that SBI is not new to stablecoins. In August, the company stated that it collaborated with Ripple to launch Ripple USD (RLUSD) into the Japanese market in 2026. 

Conclusion: A Game-Changer for Japan’s Digital Economy

The yen-pegged stablecoin launched by SBI Holdings and Startale will transform the Japanese digital finance market. Having complete regulation and the support of large financial institutions, this project may become a critical piece in the international shift towards the adoption of digital currencies. This stablecoin is consistent with the recent attempts by Japan to fund local projects, such as JPYC, as the country enters a new age of tokenized finance.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile and risky. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.