This Week In Crypto Asia: Japan’s SBI Group Leads the Way with Milestone Alliances, Philippines Evaluates 10,000 BTC Reserve
This week, the crypto scene in Asia revolved around collaborations. Japan’s SBI Group emerged as a key player, executing substantial financial strategies with other prominent crypto entities to promote distributed database integration throughout the region.
Here’s what unfolded.
Japan’s SBI Collaborated With Circle, Ripple, And Startale To Foster Distributed database Development
The Japanese financial powerhouse formed new alliances with Circle, Ripple, and the Web3 firm Startale, widely recognized for its collaboration on Sony’s layer-2 blockchain Soneium and Astar Protocol.
On 22 August 2025, SBI revealed three distinct partnerships. These projects encompass stablecoin-related ventures with Circle and Ripple, alongside a tokenization-related initiative with the Singapore-based Startale.
SBI’s strategic alliance with Startale involves the creation of a trading platform for tokenized assets, allowing for uninterrupted 24/7 market access. Simultaneously, its strategic alliance with Ripple and USDC seeks to propel the adoption of USDC and RLUSD within Japan’s financial framework.
2 Major Partnerships for Ripple This Week: Momentum in Japan Ahead!
Ripple is executing significant strategies, with Japan taking center stage!
1⃣ Ripple + SBI Holdings = RLUSD in Japan
Ripple has formalized an MOU with SBI Holdings’ licensed arm, SBI VC Trade, to introduce RLUSD (Ripple… pic.twitter.com/AGjtAO7CdD
— Paul White Gold Eagle (@PaulGoldEagle) August 22, 2025
SBI’s alliance with Ripple and Circle is distinct, both in its framework and strategic goal. With Circle, SBI has embarked on a joint venture aimed at endorsing USDC adoption in Japan, focusing on Web3 and digital finance applications, where SBI will collaborate closely with Circle.
Conversely, its collaboration with Ripple consists of a memorandum of understanding (MoU), rather than a joint venture, to broaden RLUSD adoption in the nation.
Here, SBI VC Trade (SBI’s digital currency subsidiary) will manage the rollout of RLUSD, anticipated by March 2026. This effort emphasizes stablecoin accessibility rather than co-development.
In parallel, SBI and Startale have secured milestone-driven funding for their tokenization platform, akin to other global tokenization efforts by Gemini, Kraken, and Robinhood.
The specific launch date and distributed database particulars remain undisclosed.
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The Philippines Proposed A 10,000 BTC Reserve
The Philippine Congress has introduced a legislative proposal advocating for the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve of 10,000 Bitcoin over the upcoming five years, positioning the country as a contender in the race to adopt Bitcoin as a sovereign asset.
The bill, named the “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act,” was first introduced in June and gained media attention on 21 August 2025 as it directs the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the nation’s central bank, to acquire 2000 BTC annually, securely held in a 20-year sovereign trust, solely to mitigate national debt.
Camarines Sur Representative Migz Villafuerte remarked, “This representation considers it essential that the Philippines amass strategic assets like Bitcoin to protect key national interests such as ensuring financial stability, among others.”
NEW:
Guiding the central bank to acquire 2,000 BTC yearly for 5 years (totaling 10,000 Bitcoin) to be maintained for 20 years to strengthen national protection and debt stability. pic.twitter.com/RSa8bI8dqP
— Simply Bitcoin (@SimplyBitcoinTV) August 22, 2025
This effort positions Bitcoin as a long-term hedge and financial stabilizer for the nation, referencing its historical performance and increasing global significance.
To guarantee accountability, the proposed bill mandates quarterly public disclosures regarding the reserve’s assets, transactions, and custody procedures.
If successfully implemented, the Philippines could join a select group of countries that recognize BTC as a sovereign asset, alongside El Salvador and Bhutan.
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SBI Group Aligned With Chainlink To Integrate Crypto Innovation Throughout Asia
The SBI Group has allied with Chainlink to develop blockchain-centric solutions for financial institutions in Japan and the wider Asian crypto market.
According to the press update issued on 24 August 2025, the partnership will emphasize the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA). This will facilitate cross-chain operations and enabling net asset value (NAV) data to be accessible on-chain for tokenized funds.
The Japanese financial giant intends to leverage Chainlink’s interoperability and data feed functionalities to enhance stablecoin settlements, currency exchanges, and cross-border transactions.
Seeing SBI Group collaborating with Chainlink just reaffirms what I’ve already perceived…
LINK isn’t just a cryptocurrency; it’s the foundation for the new financial architecture.
I’m all in.Asia is awakening… are you??$LINK pic.twitter.com/VhLEiMAoDD
— ⬡ LinkTheDots ⬡ (@SnizzStickyLink) August 25, 2025
This signifies SBI’s fourth major collaboration in the crypto sector, joining forces with Ripple, USDC, and Startale.
Additionally, Chainlink’s co-founder Sergey Nazarov expressed, “I’m thrilled to witness our excellent work transition into production usage at a large scale.”
In agreement, SBI CEO Yoshitaka Kitao asserted that both organizations will also focus on “facilitating compliant cross-border transactions via stablecoins, promoting the extensive acceptance of digital assets in Japan and beyond.”
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Key Takeaways
- SBI Group made headlines in the crypto Asia domain last week with four significant partnerships: Ripple, Circle, Startale, and Chainlink.
- SBI Group’s collaborations with Ripple and Circle differ; one is an MoU while the other is a joint venture.
- The Philippine Congress proposed a BTC reserve initiative mandating its central bank to acquire 10,000 BTC within five years.
The post This Week In Crypto Asia: Japan’s SBI Group Dominates With Landmark Partnerships, Philippines Considers 10,000 Bitcoin Reserve appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
