SBI Group Acquires Coinhako to Bridge Japan and Singapore

SBI Group secures MAS approval to acquire Singapore's Coinhako, strengthening its regulated digital asset network across Japan and Southeast Asia.

The deal, which has received approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), marks another step in the company’s ambition to connect the Japanese and Southeast Asian crypto markets.

Singapore Becomes a Key Pillar in SBI’s Strategy

The transaction was executed through the subsidiary SBI Ventures Asset Pte. Ltd. and involves both a capital increase for Coinhako and the acquisition of existing shares from the parent company, Holdbuild Pte. Ltd.

This move received the necessary green light from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). Coinhako operates primarily through Hako Technology Pte. Ltd., which holds a major payment institution license, allowing it to provide regulated digital asset services in Singapore.

Through this acquisition, SBI plans to merge Coinhako’s established presence in the Singaporean market with its own international financial network. This synergy aims to create a cross-border channel for digital asset services between Japan and Southeast Asia.

Part of a Broader Digital Asset Expansion

The purchase of Coinhako is the latest move in SBI’s strategy to build a complete ecosystem for on-chain finance. This vision encompasses trading, payments, and tokenized financial services.

In June, the group announced an agreement to acquire the Japanese crypto exchange Bitbank for approximately $289 million, with the deal expected to close in October.

Alongside these acquisitions, SBI invested as the sole participant in a $125 million funding round for Gauntlet, joined a $76 million funding round for EDX Markets, and introduced JPYSC—Japan’s first yen-backed trust stablecoin, developed in collaboration with Startale.

Regulation as a Competitive Advantage

Rather than building new crypto platforms from scratch, SBI consistently acquires companies that already possess the necessary licenses, regulatory expertise, and an established customer base.

This approach allows the group to significantly reduce time-to-market and leverage existing infrastructure as requirements for the crypto industry become increasingly strict.

By acquiring Coinhako, SBI solidifies its position as one of the most active traditional financial conglomerates in the region investing in regulated crypto services. The company aims to build a network connecting major financial hubs in the Asia-Pacific region, facilitating cross-border digital asset operations within a single, regulated ecosystem.