Japanese Giant SBI Holdings Pursues Majority Ownership in Coinhako Crypto Platform
Through a combination of capital investment and equity acquisition, SBI Holdings intends to secure majority ownership in the Singapore-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange Coinhako, subject to approval from regulatory authorities.
Tokyo-based financial giant SBI Holdings is taking steps to strengthen its footprint in the cryptocurrency industry, revealing its intentions to secure a controlling interest in the Singapore-domiciled exchange Coinhako.
According to a Friday statement, the publicly-traded Japanese company disclosed that SBI Ventures Asset, its wholly owned subsidiary entity, has entered into a letter of intent alongside Holdbuild, which serves as Coinhako's parent entity, to provide capital funding to the operation and acquire equity holdings from current shareholders. Should the deal reach completion, SBI Holdings would obtain majority ownership and transform Coinhako into a consolidated subsidiary, contingent upon receiving regulatory clearance.
"Bringing Coinhako into the SBI Group as a consolidated subsidiary is not merely an investment in a single platform," chairman and CEO Yoshitaka Kitao said, describing the acquisition as part of a broader effort to build international infrastructure for digital assets, including tokenized securities and stablecoins.
The announcement did not reveal financial figures or specific ownership percentages, and both the framework of the capital contribution and the equity purchase arrangements continue to be negotiated, according to the statement. The non-binding agreement would provide SBI with a licensed operational presence in Singapore, recognized as among Asia's most important regulated cryptocurrency centers.
Coinhako operates licensed crypto trading platform in Singapore
Established in Singapore, Coinhako manages a region-wide digital asset exchange platform alongside complementary services through Hako Technology, which holds a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license granted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The organization additionally operates Alpha Hako, a virtual asset service provider that has been registered and is supervised by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission.
In 2021, SBI Holdings invested in Coinhako through the SBI-Sygnum-Azimut Digital Asset Opportunity Fund, a joint vehicle with Switzerland's Sygnum Bank.
Yusho Liu, Coinhako's co-founder and chief executive officer, stated that the emerging partnership would enable the platform to expand institutional-grade infrastructure and address "surging demand for tokenized assets and stablecoins, ensuring Singapore remains at the heart of the world's next-generation financial system."
Cointelegraph reached out to SBI Holdings for comment, but had not received a response by publication.
SBI Holdings expands blockchain footprint
SBI Holdings has maintained an active role in blockchain initiatives for multiple years, channeling resources into tokenization endeavors, payment infrastructure and cryptocurrency-focused enterprises.
In December 2025, the firm partnered with Web3 infrastructure firm Startale Group to develop a fully regulated Japanese yen-denominated stablecoin aimed at tokenized asset markets and cross-border settlement. The token would be issued and redeemed by Shinsei Trust & Banking, a unit of SBI Shinsei Bank, while licensed crypto exchange SBI VC Trade would handle its circulation.
In August, SBI Group partnered with blockchain oracle network Chainlink to build digital asset tools for financial institutions in Japan and across the Asia-Pacific.