SBI Holdings, a major Japanese financial institution, has partnered with blockchain development company Startale Group to create a Layer 1 blockchain network named Strium. According to PANews, this network is designed to support on-chain securities trading and aims to become the foundational trading layer for the Asian on-chain securities market, offering 24/7 trading capabilities and DeFi composability.
Previously, SBI and Startale announced a collaboration in August 2025 to develop a yen-based stablecoin and a platform for Real World Asset (RWA) trading, targeting cross-border instant settlements, fractional ownership, and compliant on-chain transactions. The proof of concept for Strium was released today, showcasing its key technological capabilities in settlement efficiency, resilience in high-load environments, and interoperability with traditional financial systems and blockchain networks.
Additionally, Startale recently received a $13 million investment from Sony to develop the Ethereum Layer 2 project Soneium and operate Japan's largest public blockchain, Astar Network. SBI Holdings is also increasing its investment in the crypto sector, including investing in Circle's IPO and developing a crypto ETF that may be listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
