SBI Expands Stablecoin Strategy With 3% Yield Lending Program for JPYSC

13. Jul 2026 Posted by Laurent C. on News

SBI Group is taking another step in its digital asset expansion by launching a new lending program that rewards customers with a 3% annual return on its JPYSC stablecoin holdings.

The Japanese financial services giant announced that applications for the new offering will begin on July 16 through its crypto exchange, SBI VC Trade. The lending product will run for a fixed period of 12 weeks and is designed to provide users with a predictable yield on their JPYSC balances.

The move follows the recent debut of JPYSC, which SBI introduced as Japan's first yen-pegged stablecoin backed by a trust bank. The company believes the digital currency can appeal to both individual and institutional users by lowering settlement costs while supporting larger-value transactions.

The lending service is part of SBI's wider push to build a comprehensive blockchain-based financial ecosystem. The firm has significantly expanded its presence in the crypto industry over the past several months through strategic acquisitions and investments.

Among its latest deals, SBI became the sole backer of crypto risk management firm Gauntlet's $125 million Series C funding round. It also led the $76 million Series C investment in institutional trading platform EDX Markets and completed the acquisition of Japanese cryptocurrency exchange Bitbank for approximately $289 million.

According to an SBI representative, these investments reflect the company's long-term objective of offering a full suite of onchain financial services, including digital asset trading, tokenization solutions, and blockchain-powered market infrastructure.

Japan's stablecoin sector is also gaining momentum beyond SBI. Convenience store giant Lawson has reportedly started testing payments using the JPYC stablecoin at one of its locations, marking another example of traditional businesses exploring digital currency adoption.

Meanwhile, the country's three largest banking groups—MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho—have also revealed plans to launch commercial transactions using a jointly developed stablecoin during the 2026 fiscal year, highlighting the accelerating integration of stablecoins into Japan's financial landscape.