Circle has received a $50 million investment from Japan’s financial powerhouse, SBI Holdings and its banking subsidiary, SBI Shinsei.
This move marks a significant step in Circle’s strategy to expand USDC’s presence in Asia, signalling growing institutional confidence in the stablecoin sector.
The investment comes on the heels of Circle’s highly anticipated public listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on June 5, 2025. Circle’s shares debuted at $69—more than double its $31 IPO price—and closed at $83, briefly reaching a high of $123.49. The company’s fully diluted valuation soared to $32.1 billion, making it the largest fintech IPO since Coinbase’s 2021 debut. NYSE President Lynn Martin described Circle’s listing as a bellwether for both crypto firms and the broader IPO market, which has been subdued in recent years.
Notice Regarding the Investment in Circle Internet Group, Inc. https://t.co/CQRlogvFo0
— 北尾吉孝 (@yoshitaka_kitao) June 9, 2025
SBI Holdings, led by CEO Yoshitaka Kitao, has a long history of investing in blockchain and crypto firms. Past partnerships include early investments in Ripple Labs, as well as backing companies like R3 and Securitize. SBI’s latest move with Circle is part of its broader strategy to lead in digital finance and stablecoin adoption across Asia.
The two companies have been deepening their collaboration since November 2023, when they signed a business alliance to promote the use of USDC in Japan. By March 2025, SBI VC Trade became the first Japanese exchange to offer USDC to retail customers. The newly announced joint venture, Circle SBI Japan KK, aims to accelerate the integration of USDC with Japan’s financial system.
SBI’s investment follows news that BlackRock plans to acquire about 10% of Circle’s IPO shares, highlighting a surge in institutional demand for exposure to regulated, dollar-backed digital assets. Circle’s USDC is increasingly positioned as a reliable medium for international payments, especially as stablecoins gain traction in mainstream finance.
With SBI’s backing, Circle is poised to further expand USDC’s role in Asia’s digital economy, reinforcing the stablecoin’s status as a key player in the evolving global financial landscape.
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