SBI Invests $50 Million in Startale! Partnering with Japanese Startup to Accelerate Tokenization and Japanese Yen Stablecoin Deployment

Startale completes $63 million Series A funding, with SBI adding $50 million to accelerate Strium blockchain and Japanese yen stablecoin deployment.

SBI and Sony team up for $63 million funding

Japanese blockchain leader Startale Group announced on March 25 that it has completed a $63 million Series A funding round. The key addition comes from Japanese financial giant SBI Group, which invested an extra $50 million, following Sony Innovation Fund’s $13 million seed round in January 2026. With this substantial capital injection, Startale’s balance sheet is significantly strengthened, providing strong financial support for its expansion into Japan’s regulated digital asset market.

Image source: Rootdata Startale Group announces completion of $63 million Series A funding

Headquartered in Singapore but deeply engaged in the Japanese market, Startale is at a critical stage of integrating blockchain technology into traditional finance. SBI Group’s direct investment signifies a deepening of the partnership into a capital alliance. According to official statements, the funds will be used to accelerate development of multiple products, including blockchain infrastructure designed for institutions, stablecoin payment solutions, and end-user applications aimed at the mass market, with the goal of building a vertically integrated ecosystem spanning infrastructure, settlement tools, and user interfaces.

Strium blockchain and regulated stablecoin deployment

Startale and SBI’s collaboration has made tangible progress on the technical front, most notably with the public launch of the Strium blockchain on February 5. This Layer 1 network is designed specifically for tokenized securities and real-world asset (RWA) trading. Strium aims to provide infrastructure with institutional-grade settlement capabilities for the Asian market, supporting 24/7 spot and derivatives trading of various assets, including tokenized equity. SBI and Startale plan to leverage this platform to address cross-border settlement and transaction efficiency bottlenecks in traditional financial markets.

Beyond infrastructure, stablecoin deployment remains a key focus after this funding round. Startale and SBI launched the JPY stablecoin $JPYSC on February 27, 2026, claiming it to be Japan’s first trust-backed yen stablecoin. The product will be issued by SBI’s Shinsei Trust & Banking and distributed via SBI VC Trade, with full launch expected after regulatory approval in Q2 2026. Simultaneously, the company is advancing the adoption of the US dollar stablecoin $USDSC, aiming to carve out a position in the global digital settlement market.

Further reading
Japan’s SBI develops trust-backed stablecoin! “JPYSC” to enter institutional settlement and cross-border payments

From Startale App to Web3 SuperApp

While strengthening financial infrastructure, Startale also emphasizes lowering barriers for retail users. The company is actively upgrading the existing Startale App into a “SuperApp” featuring payments, asset management, blockchain applications, and social functions.

This app is closely integrated with Sony-supported Layer 2 network Soneium, developed jointly by Startale and Sony. This collaboration reflects Startale’s attempt to combine Sony’s broad entertainment audience with SBI’s financial expertise, creating an on-chain ecosystem that is both practical and entertaining.

Startale CEO Sota Watanabe stated that the company’s top priority this year is to accelerate the adoption of tokenized stocks, especially focusing on digitizing the Japanese stock market.

He believes that through deep collaboration with SBI, Startale can effectively bring on-chain financial services to mainstream consumers, shortening the gap between users and decentralized finance. This comprehensive approach—from underlying public chains to top-tier applications—gives Startale a competitive advantage in the fiercely competitive Web3 industry.

Japan’s financial transformation opportunity? Tokenized stocks and favorable policies advance together

This funding coincides with a turning point in Japan’s government’s proactive stance on blockchain industry development. Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama has publicly expressed full support for integrating cryptocurrency trading into the national securities exchange system. As digital financial transformation accelerates, Startale’s technological solutions align well with Japan’s push to upgrade its financial system.

Further reading
Japanese Finance Minister: 2026 to be Japan’s Digital Year, fully supporting crypto entry into stock exchanges

SBI and Startale’s partnership was initiated as early as August 2025, when they announced the development of a one-stop tokenized asset trading platform, followed by a memorandum of understanding in December to define R&D directions for regulated stablecoins. With the successful closing of the Series A round, Startale now stands at the forefront of Japan’s tokenized finance scene. The company plans to use the new funds to expand its development team and, within a regulated framework, promote more real-world asset on-chain transactions. This progress represents a technological breakthrough and signals Japan’s financial sector is accelerating its embrace of blockchain technology to regain leadership in the global digital asset race.

Further reading
Japanese financial giant SBI partners with Startale to launch yen stablecoin, expanding into new financial frontiers