Buy bonds and receive Ripple airdrops! SBI issues 10 billion yen digital corporate bonds with an estimated annual interest rate of up to 2.45%.

Japan’s SBI Holdings to Issue 10 Billion Yen Digital Corporate Bonds SBI START Bonds, with a Maximum Annual Interest Rate Estimated at 2.45%. Investors who subscribe above the threshold will receive Ripple (XRP) airdrops. The bonds are managed via a blockchain platform and are scheduled to be listed on Osaka Digital Exchange in March.

SBI Launches First 10 Billion Yen Digital Corporate Bonds

Japanese financial giant SBI Holdings announced on February 20th the issuance of its first unsecured security token offering (STO) corporate bonds, named “SBI START Bonds.” The total issuance amount is planned to be 10 billion yen, with a face value of 10,000 yen per unit. The annual interest rate is tentatively set between 1.85% and 2.45%, with the final rate to be confirmed by March 10th.

Regarding custody and management, these bonds differ from traditional ones handled by securities depositories. Instead, they are issued and managed on the ibet for Fin blockchain platform led by BOOSTRY, with Mizuho Bank serving as the bond administrator.

The SBI START Bonds are expected to be listed on the Osaka Digital Exchange’s START system on March 25th, allowing investors to buy and sell directly in a private trading market, significantly increasing transparency in trading prices.

Image Source: SBI Basic Information on SBI Digital Bonds SBI START Bonds

Buy Bonds and Receive Airdrops: SBI’s Ripple (XRP) Strategy

In addition to the interest income from the bonds themselves, SBI Holdings is offering cryptocurrency airdrop rewards to investors.

During the fundraising period from March 11th to 23rd, investors who subscribe to SBI START Bonds exceeding 100,000 yen will receive XRP worth 200 yen for every 100,000 yen purchased.

Eligible investors must complete their account opening at the cryptocurrency exchange SBI VC Trade by noon on May 11th of the same year. Additionally, they will receive extra undisclosed rewards at future interest payment dates and upon maturity in 2029.

SBI Group has a deep presence in the Ripple ecosystem. As early as 2016, it co-founded SBI Ripple Asia with Ripple Labs, focusing on blockchain solutions and cross-border payments in Japan and Korea.

In October last year, SBI further partnered with Tobu Top Tours, a subsidiary of Tobu Railway Group, to utilize Ripple’s blockchain technology to issue tokens and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), jointly creating a new payment platform and expanding the fan economy.

SBI Aims to Be a Pioneer in Japan’s Crypto ETFs and Stablecoins

Last year, Nikkei Asia reported that Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is planning to include cryptocurrencies in the scope of assets eligible for ETFs. SBI Holdings and Nomura Holdings are expected to lead the market, with the earliest launch of Japan’s first cryptocurrency ETFs possibly happening on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by 2028.

Additionally, SBI is actively investing in the stablecoin market. It has partnered with blockchain startup Startale to jointly launch a compliant Japanese yen stablecoin in Q2 2026, issued and redeemed by Shinsei Trust Bank, with trading support from SBI VC Trade. This yen stablecoin will eventually be integrated with Startale’s US dollar stablecoin, providing comprehensive payment and settlement functions for the upcoming 24/7 tokenized stock exchange.

As stablecoin and tokenization adoption increases, Japanese institutions are actively exploring ways to bring cryptocurrencies into traditional finance. Besides SBI, major players like Nomura, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Mizuho Bank are also making moves.

Further Reading:
Japan’s Three Major Banks Collaborate! Yen Stablecoin Validation Initiated, FSA Promotes a New Era of Digital Payments