Asia’s Tokenization Moment? SBI and Startale Fire Up Strium Network to Bring Real-World Assets On-Chain

SBI and Startale Launch Strium Network, Pushing Regulated RWA Trading Into the Blockchain Era

A new chapter in Asia’s digital finance story is taking shape as SBI Holdings and Startale Group officially unveil Strium Network, a fully regulated Layer 1 blockchain designed specifically for trading tokenized securities and real-world assets.

Announced this week, the Strium Network aims to bridge the long-standing gap between traditional financial systems and blockchain infrastructure. The project targets Asia’s rapidly expanding market for tokenized assets, which some industry estimates place at nearly $18.9 trillion over the coming years. By combining established banking compliance with always-on blockchain settlement, the initiative seeks to redefine how regulated assets are issued, traded, and settled across borders.

Source: X official

A Vision for Around-the-Clock Regulated Trading

At its core, Strium is built around a simple but ambitious idea: regulated financial assets should be tradable globally, instantly, and without the constraints of traditional market hours. In today’s financial system, cross-border trading of bonds, equities, or real estate interests can take days to settle, often limited by local business hours and multiple layers of intermediaries.

Strium proposes an alternative. By operating as a dedicated blockchain-based exchange layer, the network enables near-instant settlement and continuous trading, while still adhering to regulatory requirements that govern securities markets across Asia.

Industry observers describe the model as a hybrid approach that blends the trust and oversight of traditional finance with the speed and programmability of blockchain technology.

Partnership Roots Trace Back to 2025

The collaboration between SBI and Startale did not emerge overnight. The two groups first formalized their partnership in August 2025, initially focusing on the development of yen-backed stablecoins and early-stage real-world asset platforms. That agreement was shaped by Japan’s relatively progressive stance on digital asset regulation, which has provided a testing ground for compliant blockchain innovation.

Over time, the partnership evolved into a broader vision. Rather than building isolated products, the companies decided to develop a shared infrastructure layer capable of supporting a wide range of regulated assets, from tokenized bonds and equities to fractionalized real estate.

Strium Network is the result of that strategic shift.

SBI’s Role as the Financial Anchor

SBI Holdings brings significant institutional weight to the project. Headquartered in Tokyo, the group serves more than 80 million customers across banking, securities, asset management, and insurance services. Its experience navigating complex regulatory environments across Asia is a central pillar of the Strium initiative.

Within the partnership, SBI is responsible for integrating compliance frameworks, custody standards, and connections to existing financial institutions. This includes ensuring that asset issuers, brokers, and trading participants can meet know-your-customer and anti-money-laundering requirements while operating on a blockchain-based system.

Executives familiar with the project say SBI’s involvement is intended to reassure both regulators and institutional investors that Strium is not an experimental crypto platform, but an extension of established financial market infrastructure.

Startale’s Blockchain Engineering Expertise

While SBI anchors the financial side, Startale Group leads the technical development of the network. Based in Singapore, Startale has built a reputation for developing high-performance blockchain systems that are compatible with both decentralized applications and enterprise-grade requirements.

The company is also known for its involvement in projects such as Astar Network and Sony-backed blockchain initiatives, giving it experience in building scalable, interoperable chains.

For Strium, Startale’s task has been to design a Layer 1 network capable of handling high transaction throughput, low latency settlement, and seamless integration with other blockchains and traditional systems. Early testing has focused on stress scenarios, including periods of heavy trading volume and cross-chain data exchange.

A Focused Exchange Layer by Design

One of Strium’s defining features is its narrow scope. Unlike many blockchain platforms that combine asset issuance, custody, and trading into a single system, Strium is designed purely as an exchange layer.

The network does not issue assets, hold custody, or manage investor accounts. Those functions are left to licensed entities such as banks, brokerages, and custodians. By separating responsibilities, the project aims to reduce operational risk and simplify regulatory oversight.

Developers involved in the project say this architectural choice was deliberate. By focusing exclusively on trading and settlement, Strium can optimize performance while allowing specialized providers to handle asset management and compliance.

Technical Proof-of-Concept Results

According to both companies, early proof-of-concept testing has demonstrated several key capabilities. The network showed stable performance under simulated high-volume trading conditions, with rapid settlement times and minimal downtime.

Tests also confirmed interoperability with existing banking systems and multiple blockchain networks, a feature considered essential for cross-border asset trading. This interoperability allows assets issued on one system to be traded on Strium without requiring complex manual reconciliation.

A public testnet is expected to launch in the coming months, offering developers and financial institutions an opportunity to experiment with the platform before full commercial deployment.

Unlocking Real-World Assets for Retail Investors

Beyond institutional use cases, Strium is positioned as a potential gateway for retail participation in markets that were previously inaccessible. Tokenization allows assets such as high-value real estate, fine art, or infrastructure projects to be divided into smaller units, lowering the barrier to entry.

For individual investors, this could mean owning fractional stakes in premium assets without the need for large upfront capital. Combined with 24-hour trading and near-instant settlement, tokenization could significantly change how individuals allocate and manage wealth.

Supporters of the model argue that this democratization of access is one of blockchain’s most compelling promises, particularly in regions with growing middle-class investor populations.

Institutional Benefits and Market Efficiency

For institutions, the appeal lies in efficiency and liquidity. Tokenized assets traded on a regulated blockchain can settle in seconds rather than days, reducing counterparty risk and freeing up capital.

By eliminating multiple intermediaries, transaction costs may also be reduced. This efficiency could unlock previously illiquid assets, such as private debt or long-dated bonds, making them easier to trade and value.

Market analysts note that such changes could have far-reaching implications for capital markets, particularly in Asia, where cross-border investment activity continues to expand.

The Broader Impact on Financial Markets

Strium’s launch comes amid a broader push to integrate blockchain technology into mainstream finance. Central banks, regulators, and financial institutions across Asia are increasingly exploring digital assets, tokenization, and distributed ledger systems as tools to modernize markets.

If successful, Strium could serve as a template for similar initiatives in other regions. By demonstrating that regulated, large-scale asset trading can operate on blockchain infrastructure, the project may encourage further experimentation and adoption.

Some experts suggest that programmable securities, automated dividend payments, and real-time collateralized lending could become practical realities on such platforms.

Challenges and Regulatory Considerations

Despite the optimism, challenges remain. Regulatory frameworks for tokenized securities are still evolving, and cross-border harmonization is complex. Each jurisdiction has its own rules governing asset issuance, trading, and investor protection.

Strium’s success will depend in part on its ability to navigate these differences while maintaining a unified trading experience. Close collaboration with regulators is expected to play a critical role as the platform moves toward full commercial launch.

There are also technical considerations, including security, scalability, and resilience against cyber threats. While early testing has been promising, real-world deployment at scale presents new challenges.

Looking Ahead

SBI and Startale have indicated that detailed commercial plans, including onboarding timelines for institutions and asset issuers, will be released in phases. The initial focus is expected to be on select asset classes and jurisdictions before broader expansion.

As the network matures, additional features such as integration with decentralized finance protocols or advanced analytics tools may be explored, provided they align with regulatory requirements.

Conclusion

The launch of Strium Network marks a significant step toward the convergence of traditional finance and blockchain technology in Asia. By combining SBI’s institutional credibility with Startale’s technical expertise, the project aims to create a regulated, high-performance platform for trading real-world assets.

If the model proves successful, it could reshape how securities and tangible assets are traded, settled, and accessed, offering faster, more inclusive, and more efficient markets. As the global financial system continues to evolve, Strium represents a bold experiment in what the future of regulated digital finance might look like.

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Writer @Erlin
Erlin is an experienced crypto writer who loves to explore the intersection of blockchain technology and financial markets. She regularly provides insights into the latest trends and innovations in the digital currency space.
 
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