SBI Issues Bonds with XRP Rewards

SBI Holdings, one of Japan’s largest financial conglomerates, is launching its first blockchain-based bonds. The issuance is valued at 10 billion yen (around $64.5 million) and is aimed at retail investors. The new product combines traditional fixed-income securities with digital infrastructure and additional rewards paid in the XRP cryptocurrency.

The bonds, branded as SBI START Bonds, will be fully managed on-chain. The issuance uses the ibet for Fin platform developed by BOOSTRY, a company specializing in the tokenization of securities.

The bonds have a three-year maturity and offer an annual interest rate ranging from 1.85% to 2.45%, with interest payments made twice a year.

An added incentive for investors comes in the form of XRP rewards. Individuals and companies that purchase bonds worth at least ¥100,000 and hold an account with SBI VC Trade are eligible to receive XRP proportional to their investment. According to the company, every ¥100,000 invested qualifies for XRP worth ¥200. These rewards will be distributed at issuance and on each interest payment date through 2029.

Secondary trading of the bonds is scheduled to begin on March 25 on the START platform operated by Osaka Digital Exchange.

SBI has worked closely with Ripple for years and is a strong supporter of the XRP ecosystem. The partnership began in 2016. A subsidiary of the group previously distributed XRP to shareholders and supported XRP-based remittances between Japan and the Philippines. CEO Yoshitaka Kitao has stated that SBI holds approximately a 9% stake in Ripple Labs.

Founded in 1999 as a SoftBank subsidiary, SBI became an independent company in 2006 and now generates over $8 billion in annual revenue. The group also collaborates with Circle on the introduction of USDC in Japan and has signed a memorandum with Ripple regarding the distribution of the RLUSD stablecoin.

This move highlights how Asian financial markets are increasingly embracing blockchain technology within traditional investment products. By combining conventional bonds with on-chain management and crypto-based incentives, SBI’s issuance reflects a broader regional trend toward digitalization and innovative financing models adopted by major financial institutions across Asia.