SBI Holdings signs deal to fully own Bitbank. No immediate user changes, but the acquisition accelerates Japan's crypto consolidation and expands SBI's card, stablecoin, and exchange suite.
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SBI Holdings has signed a basic agreement and share transfer agreement to acquire all shares of Bitbank, moving toward full ownership of the Japanese crypto exchange. Bitbank announced the deal on June 24 and said existing services will not change. Customers can keep using the platform as usual.
The transaction follows earlier talks in May, when SBI said it wanted to bring Bitbank into the group to build internal synergies in Japan's crypto industry. The move also came after SBI VC Trade absorbed Bitpoint Japan in April 2026, consolidating SBI's exchange resources under one umbrella.
Bitbank adds a larger exchange brand to SBI's existing digital asset businesses. SBI already operates a range of financial services in Japan, including banking, securities, insurance, and digital assets. Its crypto footprint includes SBI VC Trade, a Visa-linked crypto rewards card with Aplus, and the RLUSD stablecoin launched with Ripple after Japan Financial Services Agency approval.
Bitbank's own services include spot trading and lending, plus a crypto-linked credit card with EPOS Card that lets users settle monthly bills with bitcoin, ether, or aster and earn 0.5% cashback.
The acquisition gives SBI direct retail distribution for those stablecoin and rewards card products. SBI VC Trade already offers a Visa card that gives cashback in bitcoin, ether, or XRP for daily spending. With Bitbank's customer base, SBI can push those products to a wider pool of users in a regulated environment. The RLUSD stablecoin adds a settlement layer for crypto-denominated payments that SBI can integrate across its banking and securities arms. Full ownership of Bitbank removes coordination costs with a separate platform.
Bitbank said users will not see service disruption from the agreement. The exchange said customers can continue trading and using platform services as before while the acquisition process moves forward. Still, full ownership by a larger financial institution could shape future decisions on fees, trading pairs, or platform integration. Crypto exchange acquisitions often trigger migration or fee adjustments.
Japan's crypto market is also moving through a regulatory reset. Authorities have been reviewing how crypto assets fit into financial markets, funds, and investor products. Larger groups like SBI may benefit if tighter rules raise compliance costs for standalone exchanges. That could accelerate further consolidation.
The deal still faces closing conditions, internal approvals, and any required regulatory procedures. No date has been set for completion.
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