Startale Raises $63M To Build Japan's Tokenized Finance Stack


#Startale Group has completed a $63 million Series A funding round, bringing together its two largest strategic partners under a single capital raise. SBI Group contributed $50 million in a second close, adding to a first close of $13 million from Sony Innovation Fund in January.


The Singapore-based company builds blockchain products for institutional financial clients and retail users in Japan. Its core offerings include Strium, a #layer-1 blockchain designed for tokenized securities and real-world asset settlement, as well as a Japanese yen stablecoin called JPYSC, a dollar stablecoin called USDSC, and a consumer-facing app connected to Sony's Soneium network.


Strium launched on Feb. 5 following a joint announcement by Startale and SBI Holdings. The network is built to handle institutional settlement of foreign exchange, tokenized equities, and real-world assets.


In December, SBI and Startale signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a fully regulated JPY stablecoin. The token will be issued and redeemed through Shinsei Trust & Banking, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank.


CEO Sota Watanabe said the company will use the new capital to accelerate the adoption of #tokenized Japanese equities and to expand yen stablecoin use in 2026. The firm also plans to evolve its existing app into a SuperApp that combines payments, asset management, and #on-chain services in a single platform.


Sony's involvement with Startale runs through both its investment arm and its work on Soneium, an Ethereum layer-2 network the two companies developed together. The Startale app is integrated with Soneium, and that partnership continues to grow.


The round arrives as Japan tests how #blockchain infrastructure can interface with conventional financial systems.

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March 25, 2026 at 11:04 PM