SBI Holdings takes control of Coinhako and accelerates the deployment of Singapore's cryptocurrency

SBI Holdings has obtained a majority stake in Coinhako

Summary

SBI Holdings acquired a majority stake in Coinhako after obtaining approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Coinhako has provided SBI with a licensed base to expand digital asset services in Southeast Asia.

This deal complements SBI's JPYSC stablecoin, the Ondo partnership and Solana-based JX equity tokens.

According to SBI Holdings, the transaction was approved through SBI Ventures Asset Pte. Ltd. makes capital injections and purchases shares from existing Coinhako investors. Coinhako will now operate as a consolidated subsidiary of the Japanese financial group.

Approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore resulted in the transaction being completed on July 16. SBI did not disclose the amount of the investment, the proportion of shares acquired or Coinhako's valuation in the transaction.

Coinhako was established in 2014 and is developed by Hako Technology Pte. Ltd. operates and holds a large payment institution license issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Its affiliated company, Alpha Hako Ltd., has registered as a virtual asset service provider with The British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission.

Coinhako provides SBI with a regulated Singapore base

With this acquisition, SBI plans to combine Coinhako's customers, regional networks and encryption businesses with the Japanese group's financial products and international influence. The company views Singapore as a key market due to its mature digital asset regulations and position in Southeast Asia.

SBI Chairman and President Yoshihiro Kitao said that the acquisition is part of the group's plan to connect multinational exchanges. According to Kitao, such a network would allow investors to trade regardless of national borders or currency differences.

Kitao added that Coinhako's local presence and regulatory status are at the heart of decision-making. SBI expects the exchange to support new services involving stablecoins, tokenized assets, cross-border transactions and on-chain finance between Japan and Southeast Asia.

For Coinhako, joining SBI gives it access to a financial group whose businesses cover banking, securities and digital assets. Commenting on the acquisition, Coinhako co-founder and CEO Yusho Liu said the deal is the next stage after the company has been operating in Singapore for ten years. "Joining SBI Group is a natural step for Coinhako to the next stage of growth."

Tokenized assets deepen SBI's regional strategy

While acquiring Coinhako, SBI has been working with blockchain company Startale to develop a yen-backed stablecoin, JPYSC. SBI plans to explore its use within the merged group, including possible connections to Coinhako's services and regional customer networks.

SBI has also worked with Ondo Finance to introduce tokenized financial products into its ecosystem. Under the agreement, the two companies plan to use JPYSC for settlement and collateral, while also connecting Japanese securities to overseas tokenization markets. Ondo's products are said to be expected to reach investors through SBI's customer network. The partnership also provides SBI with another way to use its stablecoin beyond its regular transfers, including transactions involving tokenized securities.

The day before the Coinhako deal was completed, SBI Global Asset Management and regulated real-world asset exchange DigiFT launched the SBI Japan High Dividend Equity Strategy Token (JX Token). The product is based on the Solana issue and provides qualified investors and institutional investors with blockchain-based exposure to Japan's high dividend equity strategies and is managed by SBI Asset Management.

Taken together, SBI's announcement demonstrates how the group integrates regulated exchanges, tokenized investment products and stablecoin infrastructure in Asia. Coinhako has added a licensed Singapore distribution point to the network, while Ondo and DigiFT agreements provide financial products to which SBI can connect.