Japan-based financial group SBI Holdings has rejected claims that it owns $10 billion worth of XRP tokens, clarifying that its exposure is tied to an equity stake in Ripple Labs rather than direct holdings of the cryptocurrency.
The confusion began after a social media post suggested SBI held $10 billion in XRP following its expansion in Singapore through the acquisition of Coinhako. The claim quickly gained attention among crypto investors.
SBI Chief Executive Yoshitaka Kitao responded publicly, stating the figure was incorrect. Instead of holding XRP tokens, SBI owns approximately 9% of Ripple Labs. “Not $10 bil. in XRP, but around 9% of Ripple Lab. So our hidden asset could be much bigger,” Kitao said.
Ripple recently raised $500 million in funding, bringing its estimated valuation to nearly $50 billion. Based on that valuation, SBI’s 9% stake would be worth roughly $4 billion—not $10 billion in tokens.
Key numbers behind the clarification:
- Rumored XRP holdings: $10 billion (denied)
- Actual stake: 9% equity in Ripple Labs
- Ripple valuation: nearly $50 billion
- Estimated SBI stake value: about $4 billion
If Ripple’s valuation rises further, SBI’s equity value would increase proportionally. That potential upside, Kitao suggested, could exceed current estimates over the long term.
Ripple Partnership Drives Strategy
SBI’s relationship with Ripple has been one of the most visible collaborations in the digital asset space, particularly in Asia. Through joint ventures and payment initiatives, the partnership has supported XRP adoption across cross-border payment networks.
Unlike holding XRP directly, owning equity in Ripple Labs gives SBI exposure to the company’s broader business model. Ripple focuses on blockchain-based financial infrastructure, enterprise payment solutions, and tokenization services.
This distinction matters. Equity ownership represents a share of the company itself, while token holdings represent direct exposure to cryptocurrency price movements. By holding shares instead of tokens, SBI benefits from Ripple’s overall corporate growth rather than short-term XRP volatility.
For investors new to crypto, the difference is simple: SBI owns part of the company behind the technology, not billions of dollars in the token itself.
Expansion Into XRP Yield Products
Beyond equity investments, SBI continues expanding its digital asset strategy. In December, SBI Ripple Asia signed a memorandum of understanding with Doppler Finance to explore institutional-grade yield products built on the XRP Ledger. The initiative includes research into real-world asset tokenization.
Additional ecosystem developments include:
- A proposal by a Ripple developer to explore staking mechanisms on the XRP Ledger
- Modular lending initiatives involving Flare, Morpho and Mystic
- Staking services on Fireflight and yield tokenization on Spectra
These projects aim to create more utility for XRP beyond payments, including decentralized finance (DeFi) applications and institutional yield infrastructure.
The broader goal is clear: strengthen blockchain-based financial services while expanding use cases tied to Ripple’s network.
For now, SBI’s message is straightforward. It does not own $10 billion in XRP. It owns 9% of a $50 billion company—an asset currently valued near $4 billion, with potential to grow if Ripple’s valuation rises further.
