Gumi and SBI launch $18.3M Bitcoin and altcoin fund as Japan warms to institutional crypto

Japan’s institutional crypto machine just added another gear. Gaming firm gumi Inc. and financial giant SBI have jointly launched SBI Crypto Fund I, a structured investment vehicle targeting Bitcoin and major altcoins that began operations on August 1, 2026.

The fund carries a target size of 3 billion yen, roughly $18.3 million, and will deploy capital through strategies including staking, hedging, and portfolio rebalancing.

How the fund is structured

The vehicle operates through SBI Crypto Fund LLC, with SBI Financial Services holding a 51% stake and gumi’s subsidiary gC Labs owning the remaining 49%.

Daiwa Securities Group and Yamada Securities Group are also listed as investors.

The fund focuses exclusively on exchange-listed Bitcoin and major altcoins.

Gumi’s crypto ambitions go well beyond this fund

Gumi has been building its digital asset operation since at least 2018. As of April 30, 2026, gumi’s total crypto treasury was valued at approximately 14 billion yen, or about $86 million. The company has described its goal as becoming Japan’s largest XRP treasury company.

SBI currently holds approximately 34% of gumi, a position it established through a capital and business alliance formed in 2022.

Gumi has also created a dedicated “Neo Crypto” division to house these expanding digital asset activities. The division is designed to accumulate operational experience and position the company for the approval of cryptocurrency ETFs in Japan.

What this means for Japan’s institutional crypto market

The involvement of Daiwa Securities Group is particularly notable. Daiwa is one of Japan’s largest and most established securities firms, and its participation signals that the fund passed at least some level of institutional due diligence.

Gumi’s explicit preparation for potential crypto ETF approvals in Japan adds another layer to the strategy. If Japanese regulators do eventually greenlight crypto ETFs, firms that have already built fund infrastructure, regulatory relationships, and operational track records will be positioned to move quickly.

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