SBI Holdings has opened a government headquarters and business partnership negotiations with Bitbank Inc. The Japanese financial group wants to create the world’s third largest crypto exchange with a consolidated subsidiary.
The disclosure came on May 1, 2026, a few weeks after SBI merged SBI VC Trade with Bitpoint Japan. The previous deal increased the crypto’s growth within Japan.
The way to Japan’s Top Crypto Exchange Operator
If completed, the new partnership could elevate SBI’s portfolio above bitFlyer and Coincheck’s joint venture. These results will make SBI the largest investor in the Japanese regulated market.
Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startle The team, decided to move as a change for the sector.
SBI plans to buy bitbank, the 3rd largest crypto exchange in Japan. If the acquisition is successful, SBI will become the largest crypto exchange in Japan,” he said he said.
Why SBI is Buying Now
Japan’s crypto sector has been consolidating as stricter regulations raise wages and compliance requirements. SBI booked crypto profits of ¥89.6 billion ($560.89 million) in the fiscal year ending March 2026.
Recent products include JPYSC yen-backed stablecoincrypto-collateral lending, and Visa cooperation.
The announcement expands CEO Yoshitaka Kitao’s plan to combine traditional currencies with blockchain. SBI has a 9% equity stake Ripple. Its partnership with SBI Ripple Asia pushes the adoption of XRP across the region.
Monitoring compliance is only part of the picture. SBI Securities, an investment group, has been approved for early 2024 due to IPO pricing practices. The news temporarily halted customer appeals to Japanese regulators.
Bitbank was founded in 2014 and was licensed by the Financial Services Agency of Japan in 2017. There have been no reports of fraud since the beginning.
Mixi acquired about 26.2% of users in 2021 through a deal worth about ¥7 billion ($46.2 million). The company later Affiliated with Sumitomo Mitsui Trust for storing digital assets.
SBI did not disclose the price, equity ratio, or expiration date of bitbank.
Any agreement will require due diligence and regulatory approval. The company already he found TaoTao before writing XRP again, I will point to a well-known play based on the Japanese exchange.
A note Ripple Backer SBI Opens Bitbank Talks, Eyes Japan’s Largest Crypto Exchange appeared for the first time BeInCrypto.
