SBI Holdings to Launch Blockchain-Based Stock Tokenization Platform in Partnership with StarTail Group

Japan's SBI Holdings is forging ahead with a joint venture alongside Singapore's StarTail Group to develop a blockchain platform for equity digitization. The initiative aims to slash trading fees and enhance global access to Japanese stocks, leveraging tokenization to convert shares into digital assets.

By eliminating traditional brokers, the platform could reduce transaction times to mere seconds while cutting costs significantly. Tokenized shares will mirror underlying stock prices and yields, offering a stable alternative to volatile cryptocurrencies. SBI plans to extend this model to bonds and ETFs, targeting a late 2026 or early 2027 launch.

With 50 million existing customer accounts across its banking and securities divisions, SBI is positioned to drive mass adoption of digital asset trading. CEO Yoshitaka Kitao views this as a pivotal MOVE toward merging traditional finance with blockchain innovation.