SBI Holdings Expands in Crypto by Acquiring Bitbank

May 1, 2026, 17:14 UTC 2 min read

SBI Holdings' Bitbank Acquisition Attempt

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 step is at the center of the group's strategy to expand its presence in the crypto space. Moves such as plans to acquire a majority stake in Singapore's Coinhako and the credit card launch with Visa complete the expansion push. Users will be able to accumulate digital assets with bank cards.

Japan's Crypto Regulation Transformation

SBI describes the Bitbank acquisition as a strategic strengthening ahead of expected regulatory transformations in Japan. The country's cabinet approved a draft law last month that categorizes crypto assets as financial products; this regulation will encompass the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, placing them in the same framework as stocks and other assets. If Parliament passes the law in the current session, implementation could begin at the start of the 2027 fiscal year. The group has already acquired the regulated Bitpoint exchange; it offers spot trading as well as XRP detailed analysis with reward-generating onchain bonds.

Singapore Coinhako and Visa Partnerships

Coinhako, Bitpoint, and Visa collaborations are accelerating SBI's regional expansion. With Visa integration, users will be able to accumulate crypto via credit cards. These developments reinforce SBI's claim to dominance in the Asian crypto market. Japan's regulatory move could accelerate the integration of traditional finance with digital assets. For industry players, the aggressive entry of traditional institutions signals intensifying competition.

XRP Market Status: Support and Resistance Levels

While spotlighting Bitpoint's XRP-focused products, XRP price is at $1.39 level (+1.92% 24h). RSI 49.27 (neutral), trend sideways, Supertrend bearish. EMA 20: $1.3975. Strong supports: S1 $1.3359 (⭐ Strong, -4.06%), S2 $1.2992 (⭐ Strong, -6.70%). Resistances: R1 $1.4414 (⭐ Very Strong, +3.51%), R2 $1.3995 (⭐ Strong, +0.50%). Investors should monitor these levels for XRP futures. SBI expansion may increase XRP demand.

• Support Sources: S3, BB Lower, Donchian Lower.
• Resistance Sources: ATR Upper, Fibo 0.382, Ichimoku.