Gumi Inc. and financial powerhouse SBI have teamed up to launch SBI Crypto Fund I with a target of 3 billion yen, roughly $18.3 million. Starting August 1, 2026, this fund will focus on Bitcoin and major altcoins, employing strategies like staking, hedging, and portfolio rebalancing to optimize returns.
Fund Structure and Institutional Backing
The investment vehicle is managed through SBI Crypto Fund LLC, where SBI Financial Services holds a 51% majority stake and gumi’s gC Labs owns 49%. big names like Daiwa Securities Group and Yamada Securities Group are onboard as investors. Daiwa’s involvement is significant given its status as one of Japan’s largest securities firms. Their participation hints that the fund has cleared solid institutional due diligence hurdles, marking a boost for crypto’s credibility among Japanese financial institutions.
Gumi’s Growing Stake in Crypto and Future Plans
Gumi has been steadily building its crypto footprint since 2018. By April 2026, its crypto treasury was valued at about 14 billion yen, or $86 million, with ambitions to become Japan’s largest XRP holder. The company’s recent formation of a “Neo Crypto” division shows a clear push towards gaining operational experience and positioning for regulatory approvals, especially around potential crypto ETFs in Japan. SBI holds around 34% of gumi, a relationship cemented in 2022 through a capital and business alliance, aligning both entities in the expanding crypto arena.
This move by Gumi and SBI highlights a broader trend. Japanese institutions are gradually warming up to crypto asset management, setting the stage for more structured investment products. The groundwork laid by this fund could ensure swift market advantages if Japanese regulators approve crypto ETFs in the near future.
This content is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.
