SBI Group Teams Up with Chainlink to Expand Institutional Digital Asset Adoption in Asia

Japan-based financial services giant SBI Group has entered a strategic partnership with Chainlink, the leading decentralized oracle network, to accelerate institutional adoption of digital assets across key global markets [1]. The collaboration is aimed at expanding use cases in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), tokenized funds, and regulated stablecoins, with an initial focus on real estate, government bonds, and cross-border payment solutions [2]. This partnership leverages Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and SmartData tools to enable secure, compliant, and privacy-preserving tokenization across multiple blockchain networks [3].

SBI, which manages over $200 billion in assets, is utilizing Chainlink’s infrastructure to develop on-chain net asset value (NAV) reporting for tokenized funds, offering real-time transparency and reducing operational costs [4]. The initiative aligns with Japan’s regulatory environment, which requires compliance with KYC/AML rules and stablecoin reserve requirements [5]. The collaboration also includes pilot projects such as Singapore’s Project Guardian, which demonstrated automated fund administration through smart contracts and oracle networks [6]. These initiatives are projected to reduce manual interventions by up to 70% and cut operational costs by half [7].

The partnership extends to cross-border payment solutions through Payment versus Payment (PvP) settlements, enabled by Chainlink’s CCIP, allowing near-instant, low-cost transactions in stablecoins [9]. This is especially relevant for institutional investors and multinational corporations operating in Asia’s fragmented financial markets. The integration of PvP settlements and real-time NAV reporting is expected to redefine transparency and liquidity in tokenized fund structures, enabling secondary market trading and broader investor participation [10].

Looking ahead, SBI and Chainlink are working on tokenizing yen-backed stablecoins and real estate assets, with plans to expand into tokenized bonds and private equity by 2026 [11]. Regulatory developments, including Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) preparing to approve yen-backed stablecoins in 2026, are expected to support this growth [12]. These advancements, combined with institutional demand and technological scalability, position Asia as a key market for RWA tokenization, with a potential value of $16 trillion by 2030 [13].

Yoshitaka Kitao, CEO of SBI Holdings, highlighted the strategic value of the partnership, stating that Chainlink’s expertise and technological capabilities make them an ideal partner for advancing digital asset initiatives [4]. Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov expressed optimism about the collaboration’s potential to drive large-scale applications in tokenization and stablecoin usage [4].

The SBI-Chainlink partnership reflects a broader industry shift toward DeFi solutions and institutional-grade blockchain infrastructure [1]. It underscores the growing importance of cross-chain interoperability and compliance in the digital asset ecosystem. As Winston Quek of SBI Digital Markets noted, the architecture built through this partnership creates a foundation for on-chain financial products to meet the rising demand for tokenization [15].

[1] PR Newswire (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] Bitcoinist.com (https://bitcoinist.com/chainlink-teams-up-japans-sbi-group-deal-ignite/)

[3] AInvest (https://www.ainvest.com/news/institutional-tokenization-revolution-sbi-chainlink-reshaping-asia-digital-asset-infrastructure-2508/)

[4] Live Bitcoin News (https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/sbi-group-partners-with-chainlink-to-build-blockchain-tools-in-asia/)

[8] CryptoSlate (https://cryptoslate.com/76-of-japans-banks-eye-tokenized-securities-as-sbi-bets-on-chainlink/)