Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Group is set to launch a lending service for its JPYSC stablecoin that offers users a 3% annual yield, according to a report by Nikkei. The service could debut as early as this month and will initially be offered as a three-month fixed-term product through SBI VC Trade, the group's cryptocurrency trading platform.
The move comes less than a month after SBI introduced JPYSC, Japan’s first yen-denominated stablecoin backed by a trust bank. At launch, SBI stated that JPYSC aims to attract both retail and corporate users by enabling lower transaction costs and supporting block trades.
JPYSC is a cornerstone of SBI Group’s broader push into onchain finance, which has been accelerated by a string of strategic crypto investments. Last week, SBI became the sole investor in Gauntlet’s $125 million Series C funding round. It also acted as the exclusive investor in EDX Markets’ $76 million Series C financing. In June, SBI acquired Japanese crypto exchange Bitbank for approximately $289 million.
“In the onchain space, our goal is to provide a comprehensive range of functions — from exchanges to asset tokenization to market platforms. Our recent acquisitions, investments, and partnerships are all part of this group-wide strategy,” an SBI spokesperson told The Block.
Stablecoins are gaining significant traction in Japan across both traditional finance and crypto-native sectors. Lawson, Japan’s third-largest convenience store chain, is running a pilot program to test payments using JPYC, the country’s first legally recognized yen-backed stablecoin. Meanwhile, Japan’s three megabanks — MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho — announced last month their plan to begin live commercial transactions using a jointly issued stablecoin during fiscal year 2026.
The Block has reached out to SBI for additional comment on its JPYSC lending initiative.
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