Excitement is building in the XRP community after Yoshitaka Kitao, CEO and President of SBI Holdings, clarified the scale of the firm’s exposure to Ripple.
The discussion began when an X user claimed that the Japanese financial services firm holds $10 billion in XRP and is expanding further into Asia through its acquisition of Coinhako. However, Kitao countered that SBI does not hold $10 billion in XRP. Instead, he revealed that SBI owns around 9% of Ripple Labs.
Kitao went on to add that when considering Ripple’s total valuation, including its ecosystem and new expansion, the figure “would be enormous.”
“Not $10 billion in XRP, but around 9% of Ripple Labs. So our hidden asset could be much bigger,” Kitao remarked.
Key Points
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SBI CEO Kitao says firm owns 9% of Ripple Labs, not $10B in XRP as speculated.
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SBI’s “hidden asset” exposure could surpass $10B via equity in Ripple’s ecosystem.
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Japanese giant expands in Asia, moving to acquire Coinhako for a stronger crypto network.
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SBI plans XRP & Bitcoin ETFs in Tokyo, tying growth to Ripple stake and long-term goals.
9% of Ripple, Not XRP Asset
Kitao’s clarification shifts the focus from direct XRP holdings to equity ownership in Ripple itself.
When it comes to Ripple Lab.’s total valuation which obviously include its ecosystem that Ripple has created,
that would be enormous. SBI owns more
than 9 % of that much.— 北尾吉孝 (@yoshitaka_kitao) February 15, 2026
Prominent XRP community voice Eri highlighted that owning 9% of Ripple means exposure to the entire ecosystem the company has built, including its technology stack, global partnerships, and even XRP held in escrow.
This suggests that SBI’s “hidden asset” could exceed the speculative $10 billion XRP figure, particularly if Ripple pursues an IPO at a high valuation.
Market speculation has previously suggested that a Ripple public listing could value the company north of $100 billion. However, no official timeline has been confirmed.
Notably, Ripple holds just over 39 billion XRP worth $57 billion at current prices. At XRP’s peak value of $3.66, the company’s XRP holding alone exceeded $142 billion.
SBI Expands in Asia With Coinhako Acquisition
The renewed attention on SBI’s Ripple stake comes as the Japanese financial giant deepens its digital asset footprint in Asia.
Specifically, SBI announced that its unit, SBI Ventures Asset Pte. Ltd., plans to buy a majority stake in Singapore-based crypto platform Coinhako. Notably, Coinhako operates under Hako Technology, which is licensed by Singapore’s regulator, and under Alpha Hako Ltd., which is regulated in the British Virgin Islands.
Upon completion and regulatory approval, Coinhako will become part of SBI Holdings. CEO Kitao called the deal a strategic move to build a stronger digital asset network across Asia, including tokenized stocks and stablecoins.
XRP ETFs and Institutional Momentum
SBI’s confidence in Ripple also aligns with its growing crypto ambitions in Japan. In recent filings, the company said it wants to launch a Crypto Asset ETF that includes Bitcoin and XRP, as well as another product combining Bitcoin and gold. The ETF is planned for the Tokyo Stock Exchange, pending approval.
SBI Holding
Notably, SBI Holdings is a major Japanese financial group expanding aggressively into digital assets, including Bitcoin and XRP. As of 2025, it manages ¥10 trillion in assets under management and aims to grow its crypto business through investments, ETFs, and strategic stakes like its 9% holding in Ripple.
SBI has said the value of its 9% stake in Ripple will only be officially recorded after Ripple goes public or has a similar valuation event. Earlier reports suggest unlocking that value could help push SBI’s crypto business toward its long-term ¥1 trillion goal.
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