Japanese financial giant SBI Holdings and Web3 infrastructure firm Startale Group have signed an MoU to develop a regulated Japanese yen stablecoin targeted for launch in Q2 2026. The stablecoin will be issued and redeemed by Shinsei Trust & Banking, a subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank, while SBI VC Trade, a licensed crypto asset exchange, will handle its circulation.

Japanese loans provider MBK (TYO: 3121) announced it purchased approximately 17.6 BTC for around ¥300 million (~$2.04 million) and approved the buy at the board level. The firm framed Bitcoin as both a treasury hedge against yen depreciation and inflation and as a strategic asset it plans to use beyond investment purposes.

Japan is preparing a sweeping overhaul of its cryptocurrency tax rules, shifting from one of the world’s harshest regimes to a more investor-friendly framework. Currently, crypto gains are taxed progressively at rates up to 55%, far higher than the flat 20% rate applied to equities. Under the new proposal, starting in fiscal year 2026, crypto trading profits would be taxed at a uniform 20% rate, aligning digital assets more closely with traditional investments like stocks.

Japan-based digital entertainment and blockchain investment firm Gumi has committed $17 million to XRP as part of its strategy to expand into global payment and remittance networks. The company sees Ripple’s XRP Ledger and its underlying token as crucial infrastructure for enabling cross-border payments at scale, particularly given XRP’s established liquidity and presence in financial ecosystems.