SBI Holdings, one of Japan’s largest financial conglomerates, is launching its first blockchain-based bond designed specifically for retail investors. The 10 billion yen (approximately $64.5 million) issuance, branded as the SBI START Bonds, merges traditional fixed-income investing with blockchain settlement technology and crypto incentives, marking a significant step in Japan’s digital securities market.
The three-year bonds are fully managed onchain through “ibet for Fin,” an enterprise blockchain platform developed by BOOSTRY for security token issuance and management. By leveraging blockchain infrastructure, SBI aims to enhance transparency, efficiency, and accessibility in bond transactions while maintaining the familiar structure of conventional fixed-income products.
The SBI START Bonds offer an indicative annual interest rate ranging from 1.85% to 2.45%, with interest payments distributed semiannually. In addition to these returns, eligible investors can receive XRP token rewards, reinforcing SBI’s long-standing partnership with Ripple and its broader commitment to digital assets.
Retail investors residing in Japan and companies that invest at least 100,000 yen (around $650) and hold an account with SBI VC Trade qualify for XRP incentives. The reward structure provides 200 yen worth of XRP for every 100,000 yen invested. These crypto bonuses will be distributed at bond issuance and on each interest payment date through 2029, offering ongoing digital asset exposure alongside fixed-income returns.
Secondary trading of the blockchain bond is scheduled to begin on March 25 via the Osaka Digital Exchange’s proprietary “START” trading system, potentially increasing liquidity and market participation.
SBI Holdings has been closely aligned with Ripple since 2016, holding roughly 9% of Ripple Labs. The company has actively promoted XRP-powered remittances and stablecoin initiatives, including partnerships with Circle for USDC in Japan and a memorandum of understanding to support Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. Through this blockchain bond issuance, SBI continues to strengthen its leadership in digital finance and tokenized securities.
