SBI Holdings Begins Talks to Acquire Stake in Bitbank for Consolidated Subsidiary

SBI Holdings has begun formal discussions to acquire a stake in Bitbank, with the stated goal of making Bitbank a consolidated subsidiary as part of its expanding digital asset business.

“SBI Holdings announced on May 1, 2026, that it has started formal discussions to acquire Bitbank as a consolidated subsidiary”

BanklessTimes

CoinDesk reports that SBI Holdings “submitted a letter of intent to acquire a stake in Bitbank,” and frames the move as a way to strengthen its position ahead of potential regulatory changes in Japan.

BanklessTimes

BanklessTimes similarly says SBI Holdings announced on “May 1, 2026” that it started formal discussions to acquire Bitbank as a consolidated subsidiary, and adds that the company plans to create “the nation’s largest crypto platform group” by combining Bitbank with its existing exchanges.

Coinpaper describes the talks as “discussions with Bitbank Co., Ltd., the operator of the ‘bitbank’ cryptocurrency exchange,” over “a potential capital and business alliance” that could see Bitbank become a consolidated subsidiary.

Several outlets emphasize that the deal is not finalized, with Coinpaper saying due diligence and internal approvals are underway and that “the structure and timing of any acquisition remain to be finalized.”

Cointelegraph adds that Bitbank is “one of Japan’s major crypto exchanges” and provides a profile that it “ranks third among cryptocurrency exchanges by daily trading volume, behind bitFlyer and Coincheck.”

The Bitbank talks are unfolding as Japan moves to classify cryptocurrencies as financial products under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, a shift that multiple outlets connect directly to SBI’s timing.

CoinDesk says Japan’s cabinet approved a draft amendment “last month” that would classify cryptocurrencies as financial products, and that the law “could take effect as early as fiscal 2027.”

CoinCentral

CoinDesk also links the change to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, “which is used for stocks and other securities,” and notes that the planned acquisition comes as Japan moves to bring crypto under that framework.

The Crypto Times adds that Japan increased its regulation by making changes to “the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act,” which it says introduces “increasing the disclosure requirements along with harsher punishment for non-compliance.”

Cointelegraph similarly describes a regulatory shift in which policymakers “reassess how crypto should fit within the country’s financial markets,” and it quotes Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama signaling in January that citizens will “benefit from digital and blockchain-based assets.”

Coinpaper also situates SBI’s expansion strategy in a “tightly regulated environment,” referencing its memorandum of understanding with Ripple on “RLUSD integration in Japan” as a development that “could accelerate stablecoin adoption.”

Crypto.news frames the same backdrop by saying Japan is reviewing how crypto assets fit under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and that “That process may bring tighter rules for exchanges and crypto investment products.”

Several reports place the Bitbank effort inside a broader consolidation sequence that SBI is already executing across Japan’s crypto industry.

“SBI Holdings eyes stake in crypto exchange Bitbank to build digital asset powerhouse The Tokyo-based broker is betting big on crypto with plans in Singapore and a Visa partnership for bank cards that allows users to accumulate digital assets”

CoinDesk

CoinDesk says the Bitbank deal “follows SBI’s absorption of Bitpoint,” and it specifies that SBI “already absorbed Bitpoint” and that Bitpoint Japan is “a regulated Japanese crypto exchange that offers spot trading.”

CoinDesk also says SBI disclosed plans to acquire a “majority stake in Singapore-based Coinhako” in February, describing Coinhako as “a MAS-regulated digital asset platform.”

BanklessTimes connects the Bitbank move to “SBI’s April 2026 merger that absorbed Bitpoint Japan through SBI VC Trade,” and it says the acquisition would give SBI control over “three major exchanges operating under one financial umbrella.”

CoinCentral likewise says SBI “accelerates its crypto strategy with multiple acquisitions and integrations” and that “Recently, SBI VC Trade absorbed Bitpoint Japan to expand operations.”

Coinpaper adds that SBI’s Bitbank talks follow “SBI VC Trade’s April 2026 absorption of Bitpoint Japan,” and it characterizes the back-to-back deals as a “notably aggressive consolidation push.”

Cointelegraph provides additional context by noting that SBI made a “$50 million investment in Circle's IPO in June 2025,” and it lists earlier strategic investments including “BITPoint Japan, Sygnum Bank and crypto exchange TaoTao, which later merged into SBI VC Trade.”

Beyond exchange ownership, multiple outlets describe Bitbank’s product footprint and its prior plans for a Tokyo Stock Exchange listing, both of which could be affected by SBI’s proposal.

CoinDesk says Bitbank is “one of the country’s largest crypto exchanges,” and it also notes SBI’s broader push into crypto-linked consumer products through a “Visa partnership” for bank cards that “allows users to accumulate digital assets.”

Coinpaper

Crypto.news adds that Bitbank’s EPOS Crypto Card lets users “settle monthly bills with bitcoin balances,” and it says the card allows users to settle monthly credit card bills using bitcoin held on Bitbank while offering “0.5% cashback in bitcoin, ether, or Aster.”

CoinCentral says Bitbank “had prepared for a potential listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange by mid-2025,” and it warns that SBI’s proposal “may delay or alter its IPO timeline.”

BanklessTimes similarly says Bitbank “had been preparing for an initial public offering on the Tokyo Stock Exchange since mid-2025,” and it frames SBI’s offer as likely to “replace those independent IPO plans with integration into a larger financial ecosystem.”

Cointelegraph adds a market-positioning layer by stating that Bitbank “ranks as Japan’s leading cryptocurrency exchange by Coingecko’s trust score,” and it provides comparative context that it ranks third by daily trading volume behind bitFlyer and Coincheck.

While SBI’s intent is clear across the reporting, the next steps remain procedural and tied to approvals, due diligence, and regulatory review.

“Bitbank company profile”

Cointelegraph

CoinDesk says SBI submitted a letter of intent and aims to turn Bitbank into a consolidated subsidiary, and it describes the acquisition as part of SBI’s strategy “ahead of potential regulatory changes in Japan.”

Cointelegraph

Coinpaper says the deal is “still in its early stages,” with “due diligence and internal approvals underway,” and it adds that “the structure and timing of any acquisition remain to be finalized.”

BanklessTimes states that SBI will acquire Bitbank shares “after completing due diligence and internal procedures,” while also saying “The specific acquisition ratio and timeline have not yet been determined.”

CoinCentral similarly says SBI confirmed plans to acquire shares “after completing due diligence” and that it will “finalize internal approvals before executing the transaction.”

Crypto.news echoes that Bitbank said it plans to acquire shares “after due diligence and internal approval,” and it says timing, structure, and acquisition method will be discussed later.

Coinpaper adds that SBI “holds an estimated 9% stake in Ripple Labs,” and that SBI Ripple Asia was launched in 2016 to drive adoption of Ripple’s cross-border payment technology across Asia.