SBI Holdings Acquires Bitbank: XRP and Visa Expansion

SBI Holdings' Bitbank Acquisition and XRP Strategy

May 2, 2026, 04:55 UTC 2 min read

SBI Holdings is attempting to acquire shares in Bitbank, one of Japan's largest crypto exchanges. The Tokyo-based financial giant sent a letter of intent to Bitbank Co., Ltd. on Friday, aiming to transform the exchange into a consolidated subsidiary. This move is at the heart of the group's strategy to expand its crypto presence. Plans to acquire a majority stake in Singapore's Coinhako and the launch of a Visa credit card featuring XRP detailed analysis complete the Asian expansion.

SBI views the Bitbank move as a strengthening ahead of regulatory changes in Japan. The cabinet approved a draft law last month that brings crypto assets into the financial products framework, aligning it with stocks. If parliament passes the law, it could take effect at the start of the 2027 fiscal year. The group has incorporated regulated Bitpoint; it offers onchain bonds that reward XRP alongside spot trading. Coinhako, Bitpoint, and Visa partnerships solidify SBI's dominance claim.

XRP Technical Analysis: Support and Resistance Levels

XRP price at $1.38 level, 24h +0.63% change in downtrend. RSI 47.86, Supertrend bearish, EMA 20 $1.3957. Strong supports:

• S1: $1.2143 (61/100 ⭐ STRONG, -12.34% distance)
• S2: $1.3464 (57/100 moderate, -2.80%)

Resistances:

• R1: $1.4293 (83/100 ⭐ STRONG, +3.18%)
• R2: $1.4708 (76/100 ⭐ STRONG, +6.18%)

These data are critical for XRP futures. Japanese regulation could accelerate XRP integration; entry of traditional finance increases competition.