Startale and SBI Unveil Strium – A Layer‑1 Solution Aimed at Institutional FX, Tokenised Equities and Real‑World Assets
Tokyo, 28 February 2026 – Startale Group, the Japan‑based fintech platform, and SBI Holdings, one of the country’s leading financial conglomerates, announced the launch of Strium, a purpose‑built layer‑1 blockchain that will serve as the foundation for exchange‑level trading and settlement of foreign‑exchange (FX) pairs, tokenised equities and a broad range of real‑world assets (RWAs). The initiative marks the first concrete product rollout stemming from the strategic partnership the two firms disclosed in August 2025.
What is Strium?
Strium is positioned as an exchange‑layer network – a blockchain that sits between the front‑end trading interface and the back‑office settlement infrastructure. Its design targets institutional participants that require ultra‑low latency, high‑throughput settlement, and compliance with existing regulatory frameworks.
Key technical objectives highlighted by the partners include:
- Hybrid compliance model – on‑chain tokenised instruments can trigger off‑chain dividend and royalty distributions in a way that conforms to local securities and tax rules.
- Interoperability – Strium is built to interact with legacy banking and trading systems as well as other public blockchains, enabling a smoother migration path for institutions.
- Scalability and resilience – the initial proof‑of‑concept (PoC) phase is testing the network’s ability to handle heavy transaction loads while maintaining finality within seconds.
Roll‑out Roadmap
The launch will begin with synthetic versions of U.S. and Japanese equities and commodities. These instruments are derivative‑style tokens that mirror the price movements of the underlying assets without conferring direct ownership. This approach allows the platform to demonstrate core settlement and risk‑management features before extending to fully tokenised securities.
Future phases are planned to:
- Introduce tokenised shares and asset‑backed tokens – accessible after identity verification and compliance checks.
- Open a permission‑less layer – enabling broader market participants to trade synthetic products without the same regulatory onboarding.
- Deploy a public testnet – slated for Q2 2026, which will precede commercial deployment and provide a sandbox for developers and institutional partners.
SBI’s Role and Regulatory Outlook
SBI Holdings contributes a suite of regulated financial licences and infrastructure to the joint venture. Its subsidiaries have already taken part in digital‑asset pilots, such as a forthcoming yen‑stablecoin project involving Shinsei Trust & Banking and SBI VC Trade. Watanabe, CEO of Startale, indicated that regulatory dialogues are ongoing, particularly in Japan, and will be expanded to other jurisdictions as the platform scales.
Market Context
The Strium launch arrives amid a wave of institutional interest in blockchain‑based trading infrastructure:
- NYSE’s 24/7 tokenised‑stock platform – Earlier this month, the New York Stock Exchange disclosed plans to combine its existing matching engine with a blockchain settlement layer powered by stablecoins, pending regulatory clearance.
- Analyst forecasts – Research from Sygnum projects tokenisation to become mainstream by 2026, with traditional banks increasingly adopting blockchain back‑office solutions.
These developments suggest a growing appetite for on‑chain settlement that can reduce latency, cut settlement risk and lower operational costs.
Analyst Viewpoint
Industry observers note that Strium’s hybrid model—pairing synthetic tokens with a pathway to fully tokenised securities—addresses a critical pain point for institutions wary of regulatory uncertainty. By leveraging SBI’s licensed entities, the venture may mitigate compliance hurdles that have slowed other tokenisation projects.
However, the success of Strium will hinge on:
- Regulatory acceptance – particularly regarding the transition from synthetic to fully tokenised assets.
- Liquidity provision – attracting market makers and institutional liquidity providers early on.
- Cross‑chain compatibility – ensuring seamless interaction with existing financial networks and other blockchain ecosystems.
Key Takeaways
- Strium is a purpose‑built layer‑1 blockchain targeting institutional FX, tokenised equities and RWAs.
- The initial product suite comprises synthetic U.S. and Japanese stocks and commodities, with a roadmap toward fully tokenised securities after compliance onboarding.
- SBI brings regulated infrastructure and licensing, accelerating the platform’s credibility with financial authorities.
- Proof‑of‑concept testing focuses on settlement speed, scalability and interoperability, with a public testnet expected in the coming months.
- The launch aligns with broader industry moves, such as NYSE’s upcoming tokenised‑stock platform and bullish analyst outlooks for tokenisation in 2026.
As the platform progresses beyond the PoC stage, market participants will be watching closely to see whether Strium can deliver on its promise of bridging off‑chain finance with on‑chain efficiency, potentially setting a new standard for institutional blockchain trading.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/startale-sbi-launch-strium-blockchain-institutional-fx-rwa-trading?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
