SBI and Solana Foundation join forces: Japan prepares to become Asia's on-chain hub
Japanese financial giant SBI Holdings and the Solana Foundation have announced a strategic alliance aimed at creating a full-fledged on-chain market in Japan. The partnership plans to launch and develop tokenized real-world assets (RWA) and Japanese-origin stablecoins, with subsequent scaling to markets in Asia and around the world.
A key element of the deal will be the Solana Foundation joining SBI R3 Japan, which will soon be renamed SBI Solana Global. Together with shareholders — SBI Holdings and the SMFG financial group — the new entity will work on developing an ambitious growth strategy.
Why Solana?
The choice of Solana is no coincidence. Against the backdrop of rapid growth in global stablecoin and RWA markets, the Solana Layer 1 (L1) blockchain stands out for its high throughput, minimal fees, and developed ecosystem. It is precisely these characteristics that make it an ideal infrastructure for the "on-chain finance" model, where the issuance, circulation, and settlement of assets occur entirely on the blockchain.
Japan has all the prerequisites for such a leap: a huge pool of financial assets, numerous institutional players, and, critically, an already established and clear legal framework. The main goal of the partnership is to connect this domestic potential with Solana's global network, creating a unified market for Japanese-origin digital assets.
Development Directions
Within SBI Solana Global, work will proceed along several tracks. First and foremost, this involves supporting the issuance and circulation of stablecoins, including JPYSC. Special attention is given to the tokenization of real-world assets: bonds, commercial paper, funds, and real estate.
Additionally, the partners intend to build infrastructure for cross-border settlements and offer on-chain services for institutions. Particular emphasis is placed on developing a new generation of payment infrastructure oriented towards the era of AI agents. It is important to emphasize: SBI and the Solana Foundation are not just providing technology, but are accompanying the entire cycle — from issuance to settlements.
Expert opinion: This partnership is one of the most significant signals for the entire market. SBI is not just an exchange, but a systemically important player in the Japanese economy. If they can successfully tokenize even a portion of domestic assets on Solana, it will become a powerful catalyst for the mass adoption of RWA and stablecoins in Asia. Japan could indeed become the region's main on-chain hub, and this alliance is the first and most important step.