Nikolas Sargeant
TL;DR
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SBI Group will launch a lending service offering a 3% annual yield on JPYSC stablecoin holdings.
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Applications open on July 16, with the initial product featuring a 12-week fixed lending term through SBI VC Trade.
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The launch follows the debut of JPYSC, Japan's first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin, introduced less than a month ago.
Japanese financial services giant SBI Group is expanding its digital asset offerings with the launch of a lending service that will allow customers to earn a 3% annual yield on holdings of its JPYSC stablecoin.
The company announced on Monday that applications for the new product will open on July 16, marking another milestone in SBI's strategy to build a comprehensive onchain financial ecosystem.
SBI VC Trade to Launch 12-Week Lending Product
The lending service will be offered through SBI VC Trade, the group's cryptocurrency trading platform.
According to the company, the initial product will feature a 12-week fixed lending period, allowing users to earn an annualized return of 3% on their JPYSC holdings.
The launch comes less than a month after SBI introduced JPYSC, which it describes as Japan's first trust bank-backed yen-pegged stablecoin.
At the time of its launch, SBI said the stablecoin was designed to serve both retail and institutional users by reducing transaction costs while supporting larger block transfers.
The new lending service forms part of SBI Group's broader effort to strengthen its position in blockchain-based financial services.
An SBI spokesperson said the company aims to build a complete onchain financial infrastructure that includes cryptocurrency exchanges, asset tokenization services, and digital asset marketplaces.
"Our goal is to provide a comprehensive range of functions—from exchanges to asset tokenization to market platforms," the spokesperson said, adding that the group's recent acquisitions, investments, and strategic partnerships all support that long-term vision.
SBI Increases Investment in Crypto Industry
SBI has significantly expanded its presence in the digital asset sector in recent months through a series of major investments.
Last week, the company became the sole investor in Gauntlet's $125 million Series C funding round.
It also served as the sole investor in EDX Markets' $76 million Series C financing, further strengthening its exposure to institutional cryptocurrency infrastructure.
Earlier in June, SBI acquired Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Bitbank in a deal valued at nearly $289 million, reinforcing its domestic digital asset operations.
SBI's latest initiative comes as stablecoins gain momentum across Japan's financial sector.
Earlier this week, convenience store operator Lawson announced plans to begin testing payments using the JPYC stablecoin at one of its Tokyo locations, expanding the use of regulated digital currencies in everyday retail transactions.
At the same time, Japan's three largest banking groups—Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), and Mizuho Financial Group—have revealed plans to begin live commercial transactions using a jointly issued stablecoin during the 2026 fiscal year.
The growing involvement of major financial institutions and retailers highlights Japan's accelerating adoption of regulated stablecoins as the country continues to expand its blockchain-based financial infrastructure.
