SBI Holdings has wrapped up its acquisition of Coinhako, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange and services provider. The deal, which secures a controlling interest for SBI, marks the latest step in the company’s ambitious push to build a comprehensive global network for tokenized assets, stablecoins, and on-chain finance.
SBI has been very active in the digital asset sector, most recently partnering with Ondo Finance to tokenize assets in Japan.
The transaction closed after receiving necessary approvals from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the city-state’s central bank and financial regulator. SBI’s wholly owned subsidiary,
SBI Ventures Asset Pte. Ltd., facilitated the move through a combination of fresh capital injection and share purchases from existing stakeholders in Holdbuild Pte. Ltd., Coinhako’s parent entity.
Upon finalization, Coinhako Group becomes a consolidated subsidiary within the SBI family, aligning its operations more closely with the Japanese group’s broader ecosystem.
Coinhako has established itself as a trailblazer in Southeast Asia’s crypto sector since its founding.
It primarily operates via Hako Technology Pte. Ltd., which holds a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from MAS, enabling regulated digital payment token services.
The group also maintains Alpha Hako Ltd., a virtual asset service provider registered with the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission.
This dual regulatory footprint has allowed Coinhako to serve both retail and institutional clients with trading, custody, and related services across regional markets for nearly a decade.
For SBI Holdings, the acquisition represents far more than a simple purchase. Chairman and President Yoshitaka Kitao has highlighted how integrating Coinhako’s proven infrastructure and market expertise with SBI’s substantial financial backing and international reach will accelerate the creation of next-generation financial tools.
These include tokenized securities and stablecoins, fostering seamless bridges between traditional finance and blockchain-based systems.
The move strengthens SBI’s position in key Asian hubs and supports its vision of a connected digital asset corridor spanning Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.
Industry observers view this as part of SBI’s aggressive expansion in crypto.
The group has pursued similar strategies elsewhere, including integrations and investments aimed at scaling on-chain asset management and cross-border capabilities.
Singapore’s robust regulatory environment makes it an ideal base, providing credibility and access to growing demand for compliant digital asset solutions amid rising institutional interest.
Coinhako’s leadership has expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.
The alignment is expected to enhance infrastructure, expand product offerings, and position Singapore as a central node in Asia’s evolving financial system.
Details on the exact financial terms remain private, as negotiations on structure and valuation continued up to closing, but the focus remains on long-term synergies rather than short-term metrics.
This completion underscores broader trends in the sector: established financial institutions are increasingly acquiring licensed crypto platforms to navigate regulatory complexities while capitalizing on innovation.
For SBI, it bolsters its goal of becoming a dominant player in permissioned, scalable digital finance across Asia.
As tokenization and decentralized technologies mature, such strategic consolidations could redefine how assets are issued, traded, and managed regionally.
The deal arrives at a pivotal time, with Asia’s crypto markets showing resilience and regulatory clarity improving in hubs like Singapore. Stakeholders anticipate accelerated growth in services that blend traditional stability with blockchain efficiency.