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Japanese companies are shifting corporate treasuries into Bitcoin and XRP as the yen weakens. SBI VC Trade reports 2 million accounts, doubling since 2025.
Japanese companies are increasingly allocating corporate treasury reserves into Bitcoin and XRP to hedge against the persistent depreciation of the yen [2, 4]. This strategic shift has driven a surge in institutional engagement at SBI VC Trade, which reported its total registered accounts surpassed 2 million as of July 6, 2026, doubling the 1 million accounts recorded in 2025 [3, 4].
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Registered Accounts | 2 Million+ |
| Growth Metric | Doubled since 2025 |
| Primary Catalyst | Yen depreciation |
| Key Assets | Bitcoin (BTC) and XRP |
The trend toward digital assets is centered on the "SBIVC for Prime" service, a platform tailored for institutional and large-scale investors [4]. According to SBI VC Trade, businesses are moving beyond traditional cash holdings to mitigate the impact of the yen’s decline, which has hovered near multi-decade lows against the U.S. dollar [4]. Beyond reserve management, a growing number of Japanese firms are integrating Bitcoin and XRP into shareholder benefit programs, distributing the assets as investor rewards [1, 3].
The exchange’s growth reflects a broader consolidation of Japan’s crypto infrastructure. The 2 million account figure combines users from the VCTRADE and BITPOINT services following their merger in April 2026 [3, 5]. The company plans to complete the full integration of these brands by the end of December 2026 to unify service levels and reduce operational costs [3].
Stablecoin adoption has emerged as a secondary pillar for the exchange’s growth. SBI VC Trade listed USDC in March 2025 and, in June 2026, added Ripple’s RLUSD and JPYSC—the latter being Japan’s first trust-based yen stablecoin [1, 3]. The firm has also launched a stablecoin-collateralized lending service, further expanding its suite of products beyond spot trading [2, 3]. While Japan’s strict licensing regime has historically kept its market smaller than those in the U.S. or South Korea, the integration of these regulated stablecoins and treasury strategies is drawing increased corporate and retail participation [3].
The shift by Japanese corporations into digital assets marks a notable maturation of the local market, moving crypto from a retail-focused niche toward a recognized tool for institutional balance sheet management. Whether this trend influences other export-driven Asian economies facing similar currency pressures remains the primary question for the region’s digital asset sector [4].
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 5 outlets · Aug 30, 2026 · How we report
Crypto lending allows users to borrow funds by using digital assets like Bitcoin or Ether as collateral, or to deposit assets into smart contract-based vaults that allocate funds into yield-generating activities. As of 2026, these systems may be managed by centralized entities or operate through automated protocols that execute predefined strategies.
Crypto lending is subject to federal securities laws if the activities fall within the jurisdiction of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. As of July 2026, Commissioner Hester Peirce has emphasized that developers cannot avoid these laws simply by moving financial activities onto blockchain networks.
The European Union is currently reviewing the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation to determine if decentralized lending and vault structures should be brought under its perimeter. As of September 2026, policymakers are debating how to distinguish between different forms of on-chain lending and the level of control exercised by participants.
Traditional banks and credit unions have generally been reluctant to provide crypto lending services due to the high volatility of digital assets. However, as of 2026, some infrastructure providers are in discussions with financial institutions to facilitate the integration of these services for their clients.