SBI Chairman Says 9% Ripple Stake Could Outweigh $10B XRP

• SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao says its 9% stake in Ripple Labs may outsize $10B XRP rumors.
• Instead of holding $10B in XRP, SBI owns equity that could soar if Ripple’s valuation climbs.
• Ripple holds 39B+ XRP, tying billions in reserves to SBI’s exposure through corporate ownership.

Fresh attention is turning to SBI Holdings after its CEO and Chairman, Yoshitaka Kitao, clarified the company’s actual exposure to Ripple Labs.

Speculation began circulating on X when a user suggested that SBI holds $10 billion worth of XRP and is expanding aggressively in Asia following its move to acquire Coinhako. Kitao responded by correcting the claim. He stated that SBI does not own $10 billion in XRP. Instead, the firm controls approximately 9% of Ripple Labs itself.

According to Kitao, this equity position could ultimately be far more valuable than a direct XRP holding. He explained that when factoring in Ripple’s overall valuation, ecosystem growth, and global expansion, SBI’s stake represents what he described as a potentially “enormous” hidden asset.

Equity Exposure Instead of Direct XRP Holdings

Kitao’s remarks shift the narrative from token ownership to corporate equity. Owning nearly a tenth of Ripple gives SBI exposure to the company’s full infrastructure, including its payments technology, global partnerships, and its large XRP reserves held in escrow.

Market observers have long speculated that a future public offering by Ripple could assign the company a valuation exceeding $100 billion, though no IPO timeline has been confirmed.

Ripple currently holds more than 39 billion XRP. At today’s prices, that reserve is valued at roughly $57 billion. At XRP’s previous peak near $3.66, those holdings alone would have surpassed $142 billion, underscoring the scale of assets tied to the company’s balance sheet.

If Ripple eventually lists publicly at a significant valuation, SBI’s 9% stake could dramatically exceed the previously rumored $10 billion XRP figure.

SBI Moves to Strengthen Asian Crypto Presence

At the same time, SBI is expanding its digital asset strategy across Asia. The company recently announced that its subsidiary, SBI Ventures Asset Pte. Ltd., signed a letter of intent to acquire a majority stake in Singapore-based exchange Coinhako.

Coinhako operates under Hako Technology Pte. Ltd., which is licensed by Singapore’s financial regulator, as well as Alpha Hako Ltd., which is regulated in the British Virgin Islands.

Once regulatory approvals are secured, Coinhako will be integrated into SBI’s broader ecosystem. Kitao described the acquisition as part of a larger strategy to build a comprehensive digital asset network throughout Asia, including services involving stablecoins and tokenized equities.

ETF Ambitions and Long-Term Crypto Goals

SBI’s growing commitment to Ripple aligns with its broader cryptocurrency plans in Japan. The firm has disclosed intentions to introduce a crypto asset ETF that would include Bitcoin and XRP, along with another investment product combining Bitcoin and gold. These products are expected to target listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, subject to regulatory approval.

Importantly, SBI noted that the official valuation of its Ripple stake will only be reflected on its financial statements following a public listing or comparable liquidity event.

Some analysts believe that unlocking the value of this 9% stake could play a key role in helping SBI reach its long-term target of building a ¥1 trillion crypto-focused business segment.

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