TLDR:SBI Holdings acquired a majority stake in Coinhako parent Holdbuild on July 16 after MAS approval.Coinhako’s Hako Technology holds a Major Payment Institution license from Singapore’s monetary authority.SBI links the deal to JPYSC, Japan’s first trust-type yen-denominated stablecoin project with Startale.Coinhako CEO Yusho Liu says SBI’s backing will expand the platform’s Southeast Asia ecosystem.Japanese financial group SBI Holdings has acquired a majority stake in Coinhako, a licensed crypto asset platform based in Singapore. The deal closed on July 16 after SBI received approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore. SBI completed the acquisition through a capital injection combined with a share purchase from Coinhako’s existing shareholders, making the exchange a consolidated subsidiary.SBI Holdings Expands Regional Reach Through Coinhako DealSBI Holdings pursued the acquisition through its Singapore-based arm, SBI Ventures Asset, which now holds the stake through Coinhako parent company Holdbuild. The transaction value has not been made public by either organization. Coinhako’s licensed subsidiary, Hako Technology, operates under a Major Payment Institution license granted by the MAS.A separate Coinhako entity, Alpha Hako, is registered as a crypto asset service provider with the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission. SBI Holdings has identified Singapore as a core hub in its digital asset expansion across the Asia-Pacific region. The Japanese group is also developing blockchain-based financial infrastructure with partner company Startale.That collaboration includes JPYSC, marketed as Japan’s first trust-type yen-denominated stablecoin. Speaking on the acquisition, SBI Holdings Chairman and President Yoshitaka Kitao said, “Our group aims to create a global corridor for digital assets by connecting exchanges worldwide, enabling investors worldwide to make optimal investments without being hindered by borders or currency barriers.” He added that Singapore’s advanced regulatory approach to digital assets made the market a priority for the group.Kitao also addressed the strategic fit of the deal, noting, “We are very pleased that Coinhako, with its solid customer base and business expertise, has joined the SBI Group.” He said the two companies would move quickly to deliver combined services tied to JPYSC. SBI Holdings will also mark the 60th anniversary of Japan-Singapore diplomatic relations with an overseas branch manager meeting in Singapore this summer.Coinhako Joins SBI Group After a Decade of Independent GrowthCoinhako has operated in Singapore for close to ten years under the leadership of co-founders Yusho Liu and Gerry Eng. The platform built its business within one of the most developed regulatory frameworks for digital assets in Southeast Asia. Both executives will continue to lead Coinhako following the change in ownership structure.Reacting to the acquisition, Coinhako co-founder and CEO Yusho Liu said, “Joining the SBI Group is a natural step for Coinhako to move into the next stage of growth.” He added that the company had spent the past decade building what he called the most trusted, law-compliant crypto asset platform in Southeast Asia under a leading regulatory environment.Liu also spoke to the road ahead, stating, “With the strong support of the SBI Group, our solid business foundation and vast ecosystem will be added, enabling us to realize our mission of delivering next-generation digital financial services to customers across Southeast Asia at a higher level.” SBI Holdings said it will explore additional opportunities in tokenization, stablecoins, and cross-border trading following the deal.Coinhako’s regional network and regulatory standing will now be paired with SBI’s broader financial and technology infrastructure. Both companies described the partnership as a stronger link between digital asset markets in Japan and Southeast Asia. Liu closed by saying, “Our challenge has only just begun.”The post SBI Holdings Acquires Majority Stake in Singapore Crypto Exchange Coinhako appeared first on Blockonomi.