XRP Ally SBI Invests $50M in Circle After IPO Success

XRP supporter SBI Holdings has reinforced its strategic position in the digital currency space by investing $50 million in Circle, after the latter’s successful initial public offering. This strategic move highlights SBI’s deepening alignment with Ripple’s network, as Circle continues its expansion in the global financial ecosystem.

In a recent announcement, SBI Holdings confirmed that it, along with its affiliate SBI Shinsei Bank, contributed a combined $50 million to support Circle’s growth post-IPO. Each entity invested $25 million, emphasizing a shared commitment to advancing the utility of stablecoins, particularly USDC, in Japan through their joint venture, Circle SBI Japan KK, formed in March 2025.

This latest capital injection follows a business agreement signed in November 2023, marking the beginning of a significant collaboration between SBI and Circle. Over time, their partnership has deepened, especially with SBI VC Trade—the digital asset exchange under the SBI Group—becoming Japan’s first trading platform to list USDC, a shift that directly speaks to their strategy of leading stablecoin adoption in the region.

Backing Circle shortly after its stellar IPO also underlines SBI’s ambition to influence the digital finance landscape. Circle’s public market debut under the “CRCL” ticker started on June 5, where its shares were originally slated to price between $24 and $26. However, overwhelming investor interest pushed this range higher, with the final offer closing at $31 per share for 34 million shares. The offering exceeded expectations, generating between $1.05 billion and $1.1 billion in capital.

On its first trading day, Circle’s shares surged, opening at $69 and closing at $83.23. This dramatic performance lifted its market valuation to approximately $16.7 billion, classifying it among the most successful financial technology IPOs since Coinbase went public in 2021. According to earlier analysis, investor demand was so high that the offering was reportedly oversubscribed by 25 times.

SBI’s involvement in Circle demonstrates how intertwined the spheres of Ripple, XRP, and newer blockchain ventures have become. SBI, a long-time Ripple ally, currently holds around a 9% stake in the blockchain firm and has partnered with Ripple since 2016 through their collaborative entity, SBI Ripple Asia. This joint venture has continually worked to extend the reach of XRP and blockchain adoption across the Asia-Pacific corridor.

The connection between Circle and Ripple had fueled speculation earlier this year that Ripple might acquire Circle. Reports circulated that Ripple made an offer of between $4 billion and $5 billion, which Circle declined. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse later clarified that no inflated bid—rumored to be as high as $20 billion—was made.

Despite Circle’s post-IPO valuation making a buyout seem unlikely, some market watchers argue that an acquisition cannot be entirely ruled out. While the IPO has boosted Circle’s financial standing, strategic alignments, such as SBI’s investment, indicate ongoing maneuvering within the crypto-fintech space where Ripple continues to be a major influence.

Related: Expert Advice: Sell XRP If You’re Confused

Ripple’s strong relationship with SBI reinforces XRP’s significance in the region, not just as a digital asset but also as a tool for executing wider global financial strategies. As the crypto landscape continues developing, partnerships like the one between SBI and Circle indicate increasing institutional interest in stablecoins and the broader adoption potential of blockchain-powered financial systems.