SBI Holdings Chairman and CEO Yoshitaka Kitao has publicly rejected social media rumors that the Japanese financial conglomerate holds $10 billion worth of XRP. He clarified that the company's exposure comes from its equity stake in Ripple, not direct token ownership.
Equity vs. Tokens: SBI's Real Exposure
Speculation surged after reports of SBI's Asian expansion, including the acquisition of Singapore-based crypto exchange Coinhako. Kitao stated: "When it comes to Ripple Lab.'s total valuation, which obviously includes its ecosystem, that would be enormous. SBI owns more than 9% of that much." He added: "Not $10 bil. in XRP, but around 9% of Ripple Lab. So our hidden asset could be much bigger."
Direct XRP ownership would expose SBI to daily crypto volatility. The equity stake represents a long-term strategic bet on Ripple's payment infrastructure. Based on recent Ripple valuations exceeding $50 billion, SBI's 9% stake is worth roughly $4.5 billion on paper, though actual value hinges on Ripple's evolving market position.
XRP Under Pressure, Trading Volume Tumbles
Meanwhile, XRP has struggled. The fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap ($91 billion) suffered a double-digit drop early Monday, one of the steepest declines in the market. It has since stabilized near $1.45, with trading volume slumping about 28% to $3.88 billion. Market sentiment remains weak, with no immediate catalyst for a rebound.
Ripple Ramps Up Institutional Services and Regulatory Footprint
Ripple has been actively upgrading its institutional offerings. The company enhanced its custody platform with improved security, compliance, and staking capabilities, allowing banks and custodians to manage digital assets more efficiently. On the regulatory front, Ripple secured a full EU Electronic Money Institution license in Luxembourg, enabling regulated payment and e-money services across the European Union. It also launched Ripple Treasury, a platform for corporate treasurers to manage cash and digital assets in real time, offering liquidity insights, cash forecasting, and settlement tools—signaling Ripple's push to bridge traditional finance with blockchain infrastructure.