SBI Launches Digital Security Token Bonds for Retail Investors

SBI Holdings has announced plans to conduct its first issuance of Security Token bonds targeted at individual investors, marking a notable step in Japan’s evolving digital securities landscape. The offering, branded as SBI START Bonds, is set at a total value of ¥10 billion and will be managed through the ibet for Fin blockchain platform rather than the traditional settlement infrastructure operated by JASDEC.

According to the company’s disclosure, the bonds will be listed and traded on the proprietary START trading system operated by Osaka Digital Exchange beginning March 25, 2026. The entire lifecycle of the bonds, from issuance to redemption, will be handled electronically. The bonds are expected to offer an annual coupon ranging between 1.85 percent and 2.45 percent, with interest payments distributed on a semiannual basis. This structure reflects SBI’s broader strategy to modernize capital market instruments through digital infrastructure.

Integrating Blockchain Into Traditional Bond Markets

SBI has indicated that the decision to use a blockchain-based management system instead of conventional settlement channels is intended to improve operational efficiency and transparency. By relying on distributed ledger technology, the group aims to streamline issuance, recordkeeping, and investor access while maintaining regulatory compliance. The company views this approach as a practical demonstration of how blockchain can be embedded into mainstream financial products without disrupting existing market stability.

The initiative is also positioned as a contribution to the development of Japan’s security token bond market. SBI has suggested that expanding this segment could help energize domestic capital markets and provide new funding channels that ultimately support the real economy. Despite the strategic significance, the group has noted that the issuance is expected to have only a limited impact on its consolidated financial results.

Incentives to Bridge Securities and Digital Assets

As part of the offering, SBI plans to provide additional incentives to eligible bondholders. Domestic individual and corporate investors who subscribe to the bonds and maintain accounts with SBI VC Trade will be eligible to receive digital asset-related benefits. This element underscores the group’s ongoing effort to connect traditional securities with on-chain digital assets and encourage broader participation across its financial ecosystem.

By linking bond ownership with engagement on its crypto asset platform, SBI is reinforcing its long-term vision of integrating conventional finance with digital asset services. The group has consistently emphasized the importance of creating synergies between regulated financial products and emerging blockchain-based instruments, viewing this convergence as essential for the next phase of market evolution.

Broader Strategy and Corporate Context

SBI Holdings is a diversified financial services group operating across securities, banking, asset management, and digital asset businesses. Listed in Tokyo under ticker 8473 and headquartered in Minato Ward, the company has built its strategy around combining traditional financial expertise with blockchain-driven innovation. Its activities include developing infrastructure for digital assets, supporting tokenized securities, and expanding Japan’s capital markets through technology-led solutions.

The planned Security Token bond issuance aligns with SBI’s broader objective of strengthening Japan’s digital finance infrastructure. By offering a fully electronic, blockchain-managed bond to retail investors, the group is positioning itself at the forefront of regulated digital securities adoption. The initiative also reflects growing regulatory and market acceptance of security tokens as a viable complement to conventional instruments.

Overall, the SBI START Bonds initiative highlights how established financial institutions are beginning to operationalize blockchain technology in practical, investor-facing products. As Japan continues to explore the role of digital assets and tokenization within its financial system, SBI’s move may serve as a reference point for future issuances and contribute to wider acceptance of security tokens in mainstream capital markets.

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