Japan’s financial group SBI Holdings announced it will issue a ¥10 billion ($64.5 million) blockchain-based bond aimed at individual investors, blending traditional fixed-income features with digital asset incentives. The bonds, branded SBI START Bonds, will be managed entirely on the blockchain using BOOSTRY’s “ibet for Fin” platform rather than through conventional securities settlement systems. This move marks one of the first large-scale retail bond issuances onchain in Japan’s regulated financial market. The three-year bonds are scheduled to price on March 10 and issue on March 24, with interest paid semiannually at an indicative annual rate of 1.85 % to 2.45 %. Investors must subscribe for at least ¥100,000 (about $650) through SBI VC Trade, SBI’s cryptocurrency trading platform, to qualify for the full set of benefits. Secondary trading of the bonds will begin on March 25 on the Osaka Digital Exchange’s proprietary “START” trading system. XRP Reward Structure and Investor Requirements In addition to regular interest, bondholders will receive rewards in XRP, the digital token associated with the XRP Ledger. Eligible investors receive ¥200 worth of XRP per ¥100,000 invested at issuance and on each interest payment date through 2029. The XRP rewards are tied to the investor’s subscription amount and disbursements follow the bond’s interest schedule. To participate, investors must hold an account with SBI VC Trade and meet standard verification requirements. The inclusion of XRP aims to attract crypto-interested investors and provide exposure to digital assets within a regulated, fixed-income product. This structure also serves as a potential customer-acquisition strategy for SBI’s broader crypto platform. Strategic Context and Market Implications SBI Holdings has long supported blockchain technology and XRP through partnerships, including a partnership with Ripple Labs that dates back to 2016 and ongoing involvement in stablecoin and remittance initiatives. The issuance of these tokenized bonds reflects a broader trend of integrating digital assets into regulated financial products in Japan. Analysts say the offering could deepen engagement with the crypto ecosystem while maintaining familiar fixed-income characteristics for conservative investors. The bond’s success will likely be measured by investor uptake and secondary-market trading activity once it begins later in March. As a hybrid of traditional finance and crypto incentives, the issuance may influence future tokenized financial products in the region.
