SBI Partners with Ripple to Launch RLUSD Stablecoin in Japan by 2026

Generated by AI AgentCoin World
Saturday, Aug 23, 2025 9:52 pm ET1min read
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Aime RobotAime Summary

- SBI Holdings partners with Ripple to launch RLUSD stablecoin in Japan via SBI VC Trade by 2026, backed by USD reserves.

- Ripple emphasizes compliance through monthly third-party audits for RLUSD to build institutional trust in digital assets.

- The initiative aims to diversify Japan’s stablecoin market and bridge traditional finance with decentralized systems, per SBI executives.

- RLUSD’s institutional adoption, including a $1.15B IPO settlement, highlights growing demand for regulated stablecoins globally.

- Ripple’s strategy includes global expansion via partnerships, aligning with regulatory trends like the U.S. GENIUS Act framework.

SBI Holdings, a major financial services company in Japan, has formed a strategic partnership with Circle and Ripple to expand the use of stablecoins in the country’s financial system. As part of this initiative, Ripple has agreed to distribute its stablecoin, RLUSD, through SBI VC Trade, a licensed cryptocurrency exchange under SBI Holdings. The stablecoin is fully backed by U.S. dollar deposits, short-term government bonds, and other monetary reserves, and will be launched in early 2026 [2]. Ripple has emphasized its commitment to compliance and transparency, releasing monthly third-party audit reports for RLUSD to build institutional trust [3].

Tomohiko Kondo, CEO of SBI VC Trade, noted that the introduction of RLUSD will diversify Japan’s stablecoin offerings and improve the reliability and convenience of digital currency transactions. He described the partnership as an important step toward the integration of digital technology into traditional financial systems [4]. Ripple Vice President of Stablecoins, Jack McDonald, stated that the collaboration aims to create a trusted bridge between conventional and decentralized finance [3].

The stablecoin market is currently valued at nearly $300 billion, with analysts forecasting significant growth as institutional adoption and enterprise use cases expand. Ripple USD has a market capitalization of over $666 million and a daily trading volume of $70 million. A recent example of institutional adoption includes the $1.15 billion IPO of Bullish in the U.S., which used RLUSD to settle funds onchain—marking the first public listing to do so [5].

Ripple’s collaboration with SBI is part of a broader strategy to scale RLUSD globally. The company has also secured listings with

Coinbase
for another stablecoin, USD1, issued by World Liberty Financial. These developments reflect an industry-wide movement toward regulated and transparent stablecoins, especially as regulatory frameworks like the U.S. GENIUS Act continue to take shape [6].

If successful, the RLUSD initiative in Japan could serve as a model for other Asian markets and reinforce stablecoins as a core element of the global financial infrastructure [7].

Source:

[1] https://www.mexc.com/en-GB/news/sbi-enters-deals-with-circle-startale-and-ripple-as-japanese-bank-forms-crypto-ties/70601

[2] https://coinjournal.net/news/ripple-partners-with-sbi-holdings-to-distribute-rlusd-stablecoin-in-japan/

[4] https://bitcoinist.com/ripple-sbi-roll-out-rlusd-across-japan/

[7] https://www.vtrader.io/news/ripple-partners-with-sbi-to-launch-rlusd-in-japan-by-august-2025/