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gumi, SBI unit launch ¥3 billion crypto fund with Bitcoin, altcoin focus

gumi, SBI unit launch ¥3 billion crypto fund with Bitcoin, altcoin focus

The private three-year fund begins operating Aug. 1 with backing from Daiwa Securities Group and others, as gumi deepens its digital-asset push amid Japan’s crypto market and regulatory changes.

BTC
XRP

Fact Check
The official gumi press release on PR TIMES corroborates every specific element of the claim: the August 1, 2026 launch of SBI Crypto Fund I by gumi (via gC Labs) with SBI Financial Services, Daiwa Securities Group's investment, the ~¥3 billion fund size, private placement structure, focus on listed digital assets, and the goal of building a track record ahead of possible crypto ETF development in Japan. CoinPost and CoinNess independently corroborate the same facts.
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Summary

gumi and SBI Financial Services are launching a ¥3 billion (about $18.3 million) private cryptocurrency fund focused on Bitcoin and major altcoins, with operations set to begin Aug. 1. Backed by Daiwa Securities Group, Yamada Securities Group and other investors, SBI Crypto Fund I will use staking, rebalancing and hedging strategies centered on listed crypto assets and will not be offered directly to ordinary retail investors. The fund will run for three years and is operated by SBI Crypto Fund LLC, owned 51% by SBI Financial Services and 49% by gC Labs, a gumi unit. gumi said the vehicle is intended to build operating experience and prepare for the possible approval of crypto ETFs in Japan, where lawmakers have passed legislation to reclassify digital assets as financial instruments from 2027 and the Financial Services Agency is working on a framework for such products. The launch also comes as gumi expands its broader digital-asset strategy: it said crypto holdings were worth about ¥14 billion as of April 30, 2026, and that it aims to become Japan’s largest XRP treasury company.

Terms & Concepts
  • staking: Using eligible crypto assets in network operations or related programs to earn rewards.
  • hedging: Investment techniques used to reduce exposure to unfavorable price swings.
  • crypto ETFs: Exchange-traded funds designed to give investors exposure to digital assets through a listed fund structure.