SBI Holdings Rejects $10B XRP Claim, Clarifies 9% Ripple Equity

TheNewsCryptoPublished on 2026-02-16Last updated on 2026-02-16

Abstract

SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao clarified that the company does not hold $10 billion in XRP tokens, refuting a recent claim. Instead, SBI owns more than 9% equity in Ripple Labs, estimated to be worth around $3.6 billion. Kitao emphasized that this stake provides strategic value and reduces exposure to XRP's price volatility, calling it a "hidden asset." He also confirmed SBI's recent acquisition of a majority stake in regulated crypto exchange Coinhako to strengthen its position in Asia, potentially supporting Ripple's ecosystem. Meanwhile, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed confidence in Ripple becoming a trillion-dollar company, despite XRP's recent price decline of over 6% in 24 hours, trading at $1.48.

Yoshitaka Kitao, CEO of SBI Holdings, put an end to the discussion and clarified that the company does not hold $10 billion in $XRP tokens, but it owns a massive equity stake in Ripple Labs itself.​

As the debate started on February 15 from the user named @strivex_, who mentioned, “SBI, a major partner of Ripple and holder of $10 billion in #XRP.” In response, the CEO of SBI Holdings explained that Ripple owns about 9% of Ripple Labs rather than directly holding $10 billion in XRP.

Since equity in Ripple Labs provides the company with strategic impact and value growth without having to risk price volatility from holding crypto XRP, as he mentioned, “So our hidden asset could be much bigger.”

​Then, in a follow-up tweet, Kitao mentioned, “when it comes to Ripple Labs’ total valuation, which obviously includes its ecosystem that Ripple has created, that would be enormous. SBI owns more than 9 % of that much,” when calculated, 9% stake in Ripple Labs would be worth around $3.6 billion.

​Also, Kitao confirmed that SBI Holdings had acquired a majority stake in Coinhako, a regulated cryptocurrency exchange, on February 13, which is part of its strategy to strengthen its position in the Asian crypto market, which may support Ripple’s ecosystem by providing a platform for XRP trading and adoption.

Ripple’s Long-Term Vision

Previously, on February 12, during the XRP Community Day on X, Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple labs said, There WILL be a Trillion Dollar Crypto company and I don’t have any doubt that Ripple has that opportunity. But the target goes beyond corporate growth. He stated, “Ripple’s reason for existence is driving success around XRP and the XRP ecosystem.”​

As Ripple continues to focus on XRP, where the present market conditions are showing a persistent downtrend, as of writing, XRP is down over 6% in the last 24 hours and is trading at $1.48, with a monthly down of about 28%, amid wider crypto market weakness.

​Highlighted Crypto News Today:

Russia Flags $129B in Annual Crypto Activity

TagsSBI Holdingsxrp

Related Questions

QWhat did SBI Holdings CEO clarify regarding the company's holdings in XRP and Ripple Labs?

AYoshitaka Kitao clarified that SBI Holdings does not hold $10 billion in XRP tokens but owns a 9% equity stake in Ripple Labs.

QHow much is SBI Holdings' 9% stake in Ripple Labs estimated to be worth?

AThe 9% stake in Ripple Labs is estimated to be worth around $3.6 billion.

QWhat strategic advantage does SBI Holdings gain by holding equity in Ripple Labs instead of XRP?

AEquity in Ripple Labs provides strategic impact and value growth without exposure to the price volatility of holding cryptocurrency like XRP.

QWhat recent acquisition did SBI Holdings make to strengthen its position in the Asian crypto market?

ASBI Holdings acquired a majority stake in Coinhako, a regulated cryptocurrency exchange, on February 13.

QWhat did Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse state about Ripple's future during the XRP Community Day?

ABrad Garlinghouse stated that he believes there will be a trillion-dollar crypto company and that Ripple has the opportunity to achieve this, emphasizing Ripple's reason for existence is driving success around XRP and its ecosystem.

Related Reads

Japan’s Largest Banks Eye FY2026 Stablecoin Rollout Amid Regulatory Push

Japan's three largest banks—MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., and Mizuho Bank—are advancing plans to launch a jointly-issued yen-pegged stablecoin by the end of fiscal year 2026 (March 31, 2027). They have established a voluntary council to develop the operational framework, governance, and issuance infrastructure for the token, which will be issued under a trust agreement. The move aligns with Japan's regulatory push to expand its yen-based digital asset market, following 2022 amendments to the Payment Services Act that restrict stablecoin issuance to licensed entities like banks and trust companies. The banks, which began exploring this initiative in late 2025, aim to support a wide range of use cases and are considering future collaborations with other financial institutions. This development occurs alongside other yen-stablecoin launches and recent political proposals to promote such tokens for settlement in Asia.

bitcoinist9m ago

Japan’s Largest Banks Eye FY2026 Stablecoin Rollout Amid Regulatory Push

bitcoinist9m ago

After the Passage of the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act, What Is the Correct Architecture for On-Chain Yield?

The article discusses the evolution of on-chain credit, distinguishing three markets: overcollateralized crypto lending, unsecured lending (largely unsuccessful), and asset-backed credit (ABC). ABC, backed by identifiable real-world collateral with legal recourse, is identified as the fastest-growing category and the only one credibly addressing adverse selection—the core problem in credit where the riskiest borrowers self-select. Current growth in on-chain Real World Assets (RWAs), particularly tokenized private credit funds (e.g., Maple Finance, Centrifuge), is substantial but often merely "wraps" existing fund structures, inheriting their risks rather than solving adverse selection at the protocol level. The regulatory landscape is a key driver, with the US GENIUS Act (prohibiting stablecoin issuers from paying yield) and the proposed CLARITY Act (closing loopholes on indirect yield) set to redefine permissible yield-bearing products. This makes vaults (like ERC-4626) the critical architecture—they become the primary compliant vehicle for delivering yield, functioning as issuance, disclosure, distribution, and recovery mechanisms. The author's thesis is that the correct post-GENIUS/CLARITY architecture involves building ABC solutions where credit assessment, structure, and recovery are encoded directly into the smart contract vault layer, moving beyond mere tokenized fund wrappers to solve adverse selection fundamentally and ensure regulatory compliance.

Foresight News27m ago

After the Passage of the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act, What Is the Correct Architecture for On-Chain Yield?

Foresight News27m ago

TechFlow Intelligence Bureau: Anthropic's New Model Fable Sparks Controversy by Restricting Biosafety Research, US CPI Soars to 4.2%, a Three-Year High

**Summary of TechFlow Intelligence Report:** The newsletter covers several key tech and finance developments. In AI, Anthropic's new Fable model faced backlash for secretly limiting biomedical research capabilities and enforcing a 30-day data retention policy, prompting the company to promise more transparent adjustments. In a related story, Anthropic's founder revealed his departure from OpenAI was due to dishonesty from Sam Altman, not safety concerns. Meanwhile, OpenAI is considering significant price cuts to compete with Anthropic, potentially sparking a price war. In crypto/Web3, BlackRock filed a new amendment for a yield-generating Bitcoin ETF, while Bank of America's CEO warned that stablecoin yields could drain trillions from traditional banks. U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis advocated for the U.S. to officially accumulate Bitcoin reserves. In hardware, Nvidia released the DiffusionGemma-2-6B image model optimized for efficient inference, and AMD promoted its unified memory architecture to challenge Nvidia's dominance. TSMC's CFO hinted at possible price increases due to soaring AI chip demand. A major legal ruling in Germany held Google legally responsible for inaccurate information generated by its AI Overviews feature. Google Chrome also moved to fully block ad-blocker workarounds like uBlock Origin. Macroeconomic headlines included U.S. CPI rising to 4.2% (a 3-year high) and Iran's complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz, raising oil price and inflation fears. South Korean markets saw continued volatility with massive foreign capital outflow. Other notable stories: Microsoft expanded its Copilot AI assistant "Mico" globally; a study found r/wallstreetbets users' stock picks outperformed Wall Street; a fully autonomous drone killed a human soldier for the first time, raising AI ethics concerns; and a Chinese hospital used brain-computer interface technology to help a blind person "see." The overarching theme connects debates over AI boundaries and responsibility (Anthropic's restrictions, Google's liability, lethal autonomous drones) with real-world economic and geopolitical turmoil (inflation, Strait of Hormuz closure, market instability), highlighting the tense interplay between technological advancement and global chaos.

marsbit40m ago

TechFlow Intelligence Bureau: Anthropic's New Model Fable Sparks Controversy by Restricting Biosafety Research, US CPI Soars to 4.2%, a Three-Year High

marsbit40m ago

Alibaba's Yet Another New Business Division: What Signal Does It Send?

Alibaba has established a new "Token Foundry" business unit, merging its Tongyi large model division and Future Life Lab. Led directly by Group CEO Wu Yongming, this marks the company's third significant AI organizational reshuffle in 2026, following the creation of the Alibaba Token Hub (ATH) and a Group Technology Committee. The move signals a strategic shift from consolidating AI resources to accelerating productization and commercialization. The "Token Foundry" name reflects Alibaba's ambition to become a foundational supplier in the AI era, focusing on model development and commercial application. Key teams, including those behind the high-performing HappyHorse video generation model, have been integrated into the new unit. Concurrently, Zhou Jingren, architect of the Qwen model series, has been appointed Group Chief Scientist to lead a new AI Future Research Institute, focusing on long-term technological breakthroughs like Agent capabilities. This restructuring creates a clear four-layer AI architecture within Alibaba: the research institute for frontier exploration, Token Foundry for core models and commercialization, MaaS for platform services, and business units like Qianwen (C端) and Wukong (B端) for end-user applications. The adjustments align with a global trend among tech giants like Google and Microsoft to centralize AI leadership under the CEO and deeply integrate research with business units. The urgency is driven by a narrowing competitive window. Alibaba has announced its AI business is now entering a commercialization phase, with AI-related revenue seeing triple-digit growth for eleven consecutive quarters. The company faces intense competition in the MaaS (Model-as-a-Service) sector from rivals like ByteDance and Tencent. The Token Foundry initiative represents Alibaba's effort to streamline execution and enhance competitiveness in this critical, fast-evolving landscape.

marsbit1h ago

Alibaba's Yet Another New Business Division: What Signal Does It Send?

marsbit1h ago

From Return to Resignation: Chen Hang's 437 Days at DingTalk

The 437-Day Return and Departure of Chen Hang at DingTalk This article chronicles the 437-day period from March 31, 2025, to June 11, 2026, when Chen Hang (also known as "No Move") returned as CEO of DingTalk, the enterprise communication platform he originally founded, only to later step down. Chen Hang, the creator of DingTalk in 2015, was brought back by Alibaba in 2025 after the company acquired his subsequent startup, HHO. His return was driven by Alibaba's renewed focus on AI and DingTalk's strategic role as its key to-B AI application. However, his aggressive management style, marked by strict work policies like mandatory clock-ins and extended hours, quickly caused internal friction and was criticized as being at odds with Alibaba's culture. Despite the internal turmoil, Chen Hang drove significant product launches. In August 2025, he unveiled "AI DingTalk 1.0," featuring new products like the AI-native entry point "DingTalk ONE." By March 2026, he announced "Wukong," touted as the world's first enterprise-grade AI-native work platform, representing a fundamental rebuild of DingTalk's architecture. The turning point came in early June 2026. A detailed internal post criticizing DingTalk's work culture went viral, followed by a public critique from a former executive. This prompted an unprecedented public rebuke from the Alibaba Partners Committee, which stated such management was not aligned with company values. One day later, on June 11, Alibaba announced Chen Hang's departure. He was succeeded by Chen Yusen, a 32-year-old technical expert known for founding cybersecurity firm Changting Technology. While Chen Hang's tenure laid the technical foundation for DingTalk's AI transformation with "Wukong," his leadership style ultimately led to his replacement as the company seeks a new direction under younger leadership.

marsbit1h ago

From Return to Resignation: Chen Hang's 437 Days at DingTalk

marsbit1h ago

Trading

Spot
Futures

Hot Articles

What is XRP 2.0

XRP 2.0: A New Frontier in the Cryptocurrency Landscape Introduction to XRP 2.0 In the ever-evolving realm of cryptocurrency, new projects continuously emerge, vying for attention and adoption. One such promising initiative is XRP 2.0, a novel cryptocurrency project designed to leverage advanced blockchain technology and robust encryption methodologies. While the name draws parallels with Ripple’s XRP, it’s crucial to note that XRP 2.0 operates independently, focusing on enhancing transaction security, privacy, and scalability. As the digital financial landscape increasingly embraces decentralized solutions, XRP 2.0 aims to contribute meaningfully to web3 and the overall expansion of crypto projects. What is XRP 2.0? At its core, XRP 2.0 is a cryptocurrency project that aims to create a secure and decentralized digital currency ecosystem. Its foundational technology integrates sophisticated blockchain principles with cutting-edge encryption techniques. The overarching goal of XRP 2.0 is to establish itself as a reliable and efficient platform enabling swift transaction execution while prioritizing enhanced privacy protections for its users. The project is promoted as a solution to many limitations faced by existing cryptocurrencies, proposing a system that can handle a higher volume of transactions with improved speed and privacy. This versatility positions XRP 2.0 as a significant contender in a marketplace riddled with various digital currencies. Who is the Creator of XRP 2.0? The identity of the creator behind XRP 2.0 has been flagged as ‘Wilbur.’ However, comprehensive details regarding Wilbur or their associated entity remain elusive. The anonymity of many cryptocurrency creators is not an uncommon phenomenon in the industry, often designed to maintain a degree of privacy and security. Who are the Investors of XRP 2.0? As of now, specific information related to the investment foundations or organizations supporting XRP 2.0 is not publicly available. In the cryptocurrency sector, the backing by reputed investors can significantly influence a project's credibility and success, yet the transparency regarding the financial supporters of XRP 2.0 has not been established. How Does XRP 2.0 Work? XRP 2.0 stands out by employing a combination of blockchain technology and advanced encryption algorithms that ensures secure and decentralized transactions. Its innovative structure includes unique features designed to foster user engagement and broaden functionalities beyond conventional cryptocurrency transactions. Among these features, XRP 2.0 incorporates AI-powered capabilities, such as text-to-image and text-to-speech functionalities. These additions are designed to enhance the interactive experience for users, promoting broader applicability across various sectors. By bridging technological advancements with user-centered design, XRP 2.0 aims to capture the attention of a diverse range of individuals and enterprises looking to integrate cryptocurrency solutions into their operational frameworks. Timeline of XRP 2.0 Understanding XRP 2.0 requires examining the milestones that have defined its journey thus far: July 23, 2023: XRP 2.0 is introduced as a novel cryptocurrency project, aiming to revolutionize secure and decentralized transaction capabilities in the blockchain domain. September 8, 2023: The launching of another project, XRP20, occurs, marking the emergence of an ERC-20 token on the Ethereum blockchain that remains unrelated to XRP 2.0. November 13, 2023: The XRP Ledger undergoes a significant update with the release of rippled server software version 2.0.0. It is essential to note that this development is disconnected from the XRP 2.0 cryptocurrency project. Key Points About XRP 2.0 To distill the essence of XRP 2.0, several critical factors emerge: Unique Features: The inclusion of features like AI-powered text-to-image and text-to-speech further diversifies the potential applications of XRP 2.0. Blockchain Technology: The framework utilizes advanced blockchain mechanisms and encryption protocols, ensuring a secure and decentralized environment for transactions. Scalability and Privacy: XRP 2.0 prioritizes enhanced privacy protections in transaction processes and the scalability necessary to accommodate a growing user base. No Affiliation with Ripple: Importantly, despite its name, XRP 2.0 does not have any allegiance or collaboration with Ripple’s XRP, distinguishing its operational framework and objectives within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Conclusion XRP 2.0 represents an ambitious venture into the cryptocurrency sphere, aiming to offer a combination of security, privacy, and efficiency in digital transactions. By integrating sophisticated technologies and user-friendly features, the project sets out to broaden the horizons of what cryptocurrency can achieve in today's digital economy. While the anonymity of its creator and lack of disclosed investors might raise questions for some, XRP 2.0's focus on advanced functionalities and decentralisation enhances its appeal amidst an increasingly crowded crypto market. As the cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, XRP 2.0 may yet emerge as a pivotal player in the expansion of secure and scalable blockchain solutions.

942 Total ViewsPublished 2024.04.01Updated 2024.12.03

What is XRP 2.0

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of XRP (XRP) are presented below.

活动图片

Top Questions

Hot Categoriesright-arrow

Hot Tagsright-arrow