Ripple partner SBI Holdings is diving into the growing tokenized stock market through a new partnership with blockchain development firm Startale Labs. The two companies are teaming up to build a cutting-edge platform that will allow trading of tokenized equities and real-world assets (RWAs) directly on-chain.

How the Tokenized Stock Platform Will Work

SBI Holdings and Singapore-based Startale unveiled plans for their joint venture to develop a trading system specifically for tokenized U.S. and Japanese stocks. The new platform will enable 24/7 trading with fast, near-instant settlement. Key features will include fractional ownership of high-value shares, institutional-grade asset custody, and real-time regulatory compliance monitoring.

According to a press release, the upcoming system will be designed to cater to global users, supporting high interoperability and accessibility. The goal is to create a decentralized financial ecosystem where trading tokenized assets is straightforward, fast, and transparent for investors around the world.

Integration With Blockchain Innovation

Startale, which previously collaborated with Sony on the Ethereum layer-2 network Soneium, brings considerable blockchain expertise to the venture. Their experience developing scalable blockchain infrastructure aligns with SBI’s ambitions to transform capital markets through tokenization.

“This platform will be highly interoperable, always open, accessible to anyone, and designed to meet the needs of users worldwide in the global market,” said Yoshitaka Kitao, President and CEO of SBI Holdings.

The partnership aims to pioneer blockchain use beyond crypto, focusing on real-world financial instruments like stocks. This positions SBI as a forward-thinking player in the future of fully digital capital markets.

Ripple Partner SBI’s Strategic Market Move

SBI Holdings is already a prominent name in fintech, overseeing over 11 trillion yen (approximately $74 billion) in assets and serving a global customer base exceeding 65 million. Their expansion into tokenized equities could influence more traditional financial firms to embrace blockchain solutions.

“We predict that this movement will eventually lead to the digitalization of capital markets themselves, including exchanges,” Kitao noted, underscoring the long-term potential of asset tokenization to reshape the financial landscape.

SBI’s move mirrors sweeping changes across the financial world, where firms like Robinhood, Kraken, and Gemini are racing to develop on-chain versions of publicly traded shares. Asset tokenization not only offers better market efficiency but also fosters broader participation through fractional holdings and 24/7 accessibility.

A conceptual depiction of a blockchain-powered platform for trading tokenized stocks and real-world assets.

Global Implications of Tokenized Equities

The new joint venture underscores a growing shift in global finance where traditional stock exchanges and settlement processes are increasingly challenged by blockchain-powered alternatives. Real-time, trustless transactions, verifiable compliance procedures, and democratized investment opportunities are redefining how capital formation happens.

For XRP holders and Ripple followers, this could have further implications. SBI Holdings has long been a strong advocate and institutional user of Ripple’s blockchain network. Their new foray into tokenized stocks may eventually integrate with digital asset protocols, boosting real-world utility and adoption of blockchain-based financial assets.

Related: XRP, Bitcoin Could React to Inflation Data

To explore further developments in tokenized investments, check out this related coverage: DBS Launches Tokenized Structured Notes on Ethereum, Expanding Investor Access.