SBI Holdings and Startale plan to launch a regulated yen stablecoin in the second quarter of 2026.

According to Odaily Planet Daily, Japanese financial group SBI Holdings and Web3 infrastructure company Startale Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop a fully regulated yen-denominated stablecoin, targeting the tokenized asset market and global settlement.

According to the memorandum of understanding, the project will be issued and redeemed by Shinsei Trust & Banking, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank, while the circulation of the stablecoin will be supported by SBI VC Trade, a licensed cryptocurrency trading service provider.

Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, Chairman and President of SBI Holdings, stated that issuing a yen stablecoin with Startale will serve as the foundation for Japan's transition to a token economy.

The stablecoin is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2026, with the exact timing depending on regulatory approvals and the completion of the compliance framework. This move comes as Japan accelerates the issuance of stablecoins under a clear regulatory framework, placing trust banks and licensed entities at the center of the on-chain settlement infrastructure.