Bitcoin News Today: SBI Group Partners with Chainlink to Expand Tokenized Assets in Asia-Pacific

SBI Group, one of Japan’s largest financial conglomerates, has taken another significant step in its digital asset strategy through a newly announced partnership with Chainlink, a leading decentralized oracle network [1]. The collaboration, which will initially target the Japanese market before expanding to the broader Asia-Pacific region, focuses on leveraging blockchain technology to tokenize real-world assets such as bonds, enable cross-chain transactions, and enhance transparency in stablecoin reserves through on-chain verification [2]. This initiative aligns with SBI’s broader vision to accelerate institutional-grade digital asset adoption in the region.

The partnership builds on SBI’s recent series of strategic alliances, including collaborations with Circle, Ripple, and Startale, all aimed at strengthening its position in the tokenized finance sector [3]. By integrating Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP), SBI aims to facilitate seamless cross-border transactions, including foreign exchange settlements and cross-chain asset transfers. The move is also expected to support innovative settlement mechanisms such as payment versus payment (PvP), which could streamline financial operations for institutions [5].

SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao emphasized that the partnership will enable compliant cross-border stablecoin transactions, with the ultimate goal of accelerating digital asset adoption in Japan and across Asia [6]. This comes at a time when Japan’s regulatory landscape is evolving, with the Financial Services Agency reportedly preparing to approve the country’s first yen-denominated stablecoin as early as next month. The initiative is also expected to support SBI’s work with Circle and Ripple, including the planned launch of Ripple USD in Japan by 2026 and the expansion of USDC adoption in the region [4].

Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov described the partnership as a continuation of SBI’s longstanding collaboration with Chainlink in areas like stablecoin settlements and fund tokenization, and highlighted the project’s movement toward production-level implementation at scale [7]. The integration of Chainlink’s Proof of Reserve will further enhance transparency for stablecoin reserves, offering greater trust and clarity for institutional investors [5].

In parallel, Japan’s Metaplanet has been upgraded to mid-cap status in FTSE Russell’s index, securing inclusion in the FTSE All-World Index [8]. The company, now the seventh-largest publicly traded Bitcoin holder globally with nearly 19,000 BTC in its corporate treasury, aims to accumulate 210,000 BTC by 2027 [8]. The index inclusion is expected to channel more capital into Bitcoin from traditional financial markets, as passive investors gain indirect exposure to the cryptocurrency through their index holdings.

Metaplanet’s Q2 performance saw year-to-date gains of nearly 187% by August, significantly outperforming the TOPIX Core 30 Index [9]. The company previously operated as a hotel business before pivoting to a dedicated Bitcoin treasury company in 2024 [8]. CEO Simon Gerovich has also indicated that part of the company’s Bitcoin reserves may be deployed to acquire income-generating businesses, including potential ventures in the digital asset sector [9].

The growing integration of blockchain and digital assets in traditional financial infrastructure is underscored by these developments. SBI’s partnership with Chainlink, alongside Metaplanet’s rise in the global equity market, highlights the increasing role of cryptocurrencies and tokenized assets in mainstream finance [10]. As more institutions adopt blockchain-based solutions for cross-border transactions, asset tokenization, and enhanced transparency, the infrastructure being developed by SBI and its partners may serve as a model for global financial innovation.

Source:

[1] SBI Group and Chainlink Announce Strategic Partnership

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sbi-group-and-chainlink-announce-strategic-partnership-to-accelerate-institutional-digital-asset-adoption-in-key-global-markets-302537166.html

[2] SBI Group and Chainlink Partner to Expand Tokenized

https://www.ainvest.com/news/sbi-group-chainlink-partner-expand-tokenized-assets-asia-pacific-2508/

[3] 76% of Japan's banks eye tokenized securities as SBI bets

https://cryptoslate.com/76-of-japans-banks-eye-tokenized-securities-as-sbi-bets-on-chainlink/

[4] SBI and Chainlink Enter New Partnership to Boost Digital

https://thecryptobasic.com/2025/08/25/sbi-and-chainlink-enter-new-partnership-to-boost-digital-asset-adoption-in-japan/

[5] Chainlink partners with Japan's SBI Group, focusing on

https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/chainlink-partners-with-japans-sbi-group-focusing-on-defi-use-cases-202508250430

[6] SBI Group and Chainlink Announce Strategic Partnership

[7] Chainlink, SBI Group partner to boost digital asset adoption

https://crypto.news/chainlink-sbi-group-tokenized-assets-japan-2025/

[8] SBI Group Expands Crypto Push with New Chainlink Partnership

https://coinpaper.com/10695/sbi-group-expands-crypto-push-with-new-chainlink-partnership

[9] SBI Group Expands Crypto Push with New Chainlink Partnership

[10] SBI and Chainlink Enter New Partnership to Boost Digital