SBI and Gumi Launch $18.3M Bitcoin and Altcoin Fund in Japan

Japan's institutional crypto market has gained another significant player with the launch of SBI Crypto Fund I, a $18.3 million fund focused on Bitcoin and major altcoins. Jointly created by gaming firm gumi Inc. and financial giant SBI, the fund began operations on August 1, 2026.

The fund, which carries a target size of 3 billion yen, will deploy capital through strategies including staking, hedging, and portfolio rebalancing. It operates through SBI Crypto Fund LLC, with SBI Financial Services holding a 51% stake and gumi's subsidiary gC Labs owning the remaining 49%.

Gumi has been building its digital asset operation since at least 2018, with a total crypto treasury valued at approximately 14 billion yen as of April 30, 2026. The company has described its goal as becoming Japan's largest XRP treasury company, and has created a dedicated 'Neo Crypto' division to house these expanding digital asset activities.