Key facts
- SBI VC Trade is launching a yen stablecoin lending service.
- The service will offer an initial 3% annual yield for a 12-week lending term.
- Customers can lend JPYSC to SBI VC Trade starting July 16.
- The product is not a bank deposit and is not covered by deposit insurance.
- SBI Holdings has partnered with the Solana Foundation to develop a Japanese onchain financial market.
- The Japanese government is increasing support for crypto and Web3 startups.
SBI VC Trade, a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, is set to launch a Japanese yen-denominated stablecoin lending service on July 16. The service will offer an initial annualized yield of 3% for a 12-week term on JPYSC tokens lent to the company. This initiative aims to provide a yield higher than typical yen deposits, positioning it as a key component for the future of onchain finance.
Customers lending JPYSC will receive their tokens back with a lending fee at maturity. The gross return over the 12-week period is approximately 0.69% before taxes. SBI VC Trade previously launched a similar lending service for Circle's USDC stablecoin in March, claiming it was the first of its kind for Japanese customers seeking passive yield on yen-denominated stablecoins.
In parallel, SBI Holdings announced a strategic partnership with the Switzerland-based Solana Foundation. This collaboration aims to establish a Japanese onchain financial market, with SBI R3 Japan being rebranded as SBI Solana Global to focus on the yen-backed stablecoin. The initiative seeks to position Japan as a hub for onchain finance, expand the use of stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets in Asia, and develop infrastructure for institutional services, cross-border payments, and AI agent payments.
The launch of the stablecoin lending service coincides with positive regulatory developments for Japan's crypto and Web3 sectors. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has indicated government plans to bolster support for startups through increased funding and regulatory easing, building on existing startup development plans. In April 2026, Japan amended its Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, classifying crypto assets as financial instruments, thereby elevating their status within the financial system.