Japanese financial group SBI Holdings is moving its blockchain initiative toward Solana for stablecoin and real-world asset tokenization work. The project, now called SBI Solana Global after previously operating as SBI R3 Japan, will use the Solana network as part of its push into onchain finance.
The move matters because SBI is positioning the venture as a bridge between Japan’s domestic market and global liquidity. According to the company, the collaboration is intended to support a new market for Japan-originated digital assets and help establish Japan as a hub for onchain finance in Asia.
The joint venture now includes the Solana Foundation, the Switzerland-based organization associated with the Solana layer-1 network. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is also listed among the venture’s shareholders, adding another major Japanese financial name to the project.
SBI Holdings said SBI Solana Global’s functions include supporting stablecoin issuance and distribution, helping structure and distribute tokenized real-world assets, and developing payment infrastructure for AI agents. The source did not provide specific launch dates or volumes for these initiatives.
The pivot marks a shift from the initiative’s earlier focus on Corda, the permissioned blockchain developed by R3. It also follows broader digital asset expansion by SBI Holdings, including its agreement last month to buy Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Bitbank for around $289 million.