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

Chip Stocks Hit Record Highs Since 2000, SaaS Stocks Fall to Yearly Lows: Two Worlds Under the AI Divide

The article highlights a stark divergence in the tech market driven by AI: semiconductor stocks are surging while SaaS stocks plummet. On April 23, Texas Instruments saw its best single-day performance since 2000, with Q1 revenue up 19% and data center revenue surging 90%. Intel also reported blowout results, with revenue far exceeding expectations and its stock rising over 20% after hours. The semiconductor ETF (SMH) is up nearly 28% this year. In contrast, SaaS companies like ServiceNow and IBM experienced historic declines, with ServiceNow dropping 18% despite beating earnings estimates. The software ETF (IGV) has entered a technical bear market, losing about $2 trillion in market cap. The trend, dubbed "SaaSpocalypse," reflects fears that AI agents could reduce the need for software licenses and enable companies to build internal tools instead of relying on SaaS subscriptions. The market is rotating capital from software to semiconductors, betting on AI infrastructure as a safer play. Chip stocks now trade at high valuations—Texas Instruments at a P/E over 50, Intel at 120 times forward earnings—pricing in years of growth. However, this depends on continued massive AI capital expenditure from tech giants. If spending slows, the trend could reverse. For now, the divide persists: chips celebrate, SaaS struggles.

marsbit16m ago

Chip Stocks Hit Record Highs Since 2000, SaaS Stocks Fall to Yearly Lows: Two Worlds Under the AI Divide

marsbit16m ago

From Robinhood to Polymarket: Is the Era of Integrating All Assets on a Single Platform Coming?

From Robinhood to Polymarket: The Era of All-in-One Asset Platforms Is Coming Asset classes are rapidly converging. Platforms that once specialized in single categories—such as stocks, cryptocurrencies, or prediction markets—are now moving toward offering all three. Robinhood pioneered this model, starting with equities, adding crypto in 2018, and prediction markets in 2025. This strategy has proven resilient: when crypto revenues fell, other segments like options and stocks filled the gap. Now, prediction market leaders Polymarket and Kalshi are moving in the same direction, both announcing perpetual futures trading on April 21, 2026, pending regulatory approval. These futures will cover assets like Bitcoin, gold, and stocks such as Nvidia. This trend mirrors the consolidation seen in consumer tech, like smartphones replacing dedicated cameras and MP3 players. Younger users, accustomed to interacting with multiple asset types from an early age, will increasingly demand unified platforms. A key competitive advantage in prediction markets is collateral utilization—idle assets locked during betting periods. Polymarket’s move into perpetuals may be a strategy to generate yield from that capital, similar to earlier DeFi integrations like PolyAave. As the regulatory landscape evolves, traditional finance is also likely to incorporate crypto and prediction markets, further accelerating this convergence.

marsbit16m ago

From Robinhood to Polymarket: Is the Era of Integrating All Assets on a Single Platform Coming?

marsbit16m ago

OpenAI Goes Left, DeepSeek Goes Right

On April 24, 2026, DeepSeek released V4, a Chinese large language model offering a free "million-token context window," enabling it to process vast amounts of data like entire books or years of corporate documents in one go. In contrast, OpenAI’s GPT-5.5, released around the same time, is more powerful but significantly more expensive, charging up to $180 per million output tokens. DeepSeek’s strategy represents a shift from a pure AI research firm to a heavy-infrastructure player, building data centers in Inner Mongolia’s Ulanqab to bypass U.S. chip export restrictions. This move, supported by Huawei’s Ascend chips and China’s cheap green electricity, highlights a fundamental divergence in AI development models: U.S. firms focus on high-cost, high-margin services, while Chinese players like DeepSeek prioritize accessibility and affordability. Facing intense talent poaching from tech giants, DeepSeek is seeking a $44 billion valuation funding round to retain researchers and scale infrastructure. Meanwhile, Chinese manufacturers are compressing AI models to run on smartphones, making AI accessible offline and across the Global South. Through open-source models and localized solutions, Chinese AI is empowering non-English speakers and low-income users, driving a form of "digital equality." While Silicon Valley builds walled gardens, DeepSeek and others are turning AI into a public utility—like tap water—flowing freely to those previously left behind.

marsbit42m ago

OpenAI Goes Left, DeepSeek Goes Right

marsbit42m ago

Sam Bankman-Fried Backs Off New Trial Request, Keeps Pressure On Judge Removal

Sam Bankman-Fried has withdrawn his request for a new trial, stating he does not expect a fair hearing from Judge Lewis Kaplan, who oversees his criminal case. He withdrew the motion without prejudice, meaning he can refile it after his appeal and a separate request to remove Kaplan from the case are resolved. Bankman-Fried is serving a 25-year sentence for fraud related to the collapse of FTX. The withdrawal followed a court-ordered inquiry into whether he had legal help drafting an earlier filing, which he denied. His efforts to replace the judge and appeal his conviction continue. Outside court, he has sought a pardon, but former President Trump has indicated he will not grant one.

bitcoinist1h ago

Sam Bankman-Fried Backs Off New Trial Request, Keeps Pressure On Judge Removal

bitcoinist1h ago

$292 Million KelpDAO Cross-Chain Bridge Hack: Who Should Foot the Bill?

On April 18, 2026, an attacker stole 116,500 rsETH (worth ~$292M) from KelpDAO’s cross-chain bridge in 46 minutes—the largest DeFi exploit of 2026. The stolen assets were deposited into Aave V3 as collateral, causing $177–200M in bad debt and triggering a cascade of losses across nine DeFi protocols. Aave’s TVL dropped by ~$6B overnight. This legal analysis argues that KelpDAO and LayerZero Labs share concurrent liability, with fault apportioned 60%/40%. KelpDAO negligently configured its bridge with a 1-of-1 decentralized verifier network (DVN)—a single point of failure—despite LayerZero’s explicit recommendation of a 2-of-3 setup. LayerZero, which operated the compromised DVN, failed to secure its RPC infrastructure against a known poisoning attack vector. Both protocols’ terms of service cap liability at $200 (KelpDAO) or $50 (LayerZero), but these limits are likely unenforceable due to unconscionability, gross negligence exceptions, and potential securities law invalidation (if rsETH is deemed a security under the Howey test). Aave’s governance also faces fiduciary duty claims for raising rsETH’s loan-to-value ratio to 93%—far above competitors’ 72–75%—without adequately assessing bridge risks, amplifying the systemic fallout. Practical recovery targets include LayerZero Labs (a registered Canadian entity), KelpDAO’s founders, auditors, and identifiable Aave governance delegates. The incident underscores escalating legal risks for DeFi protocols, infrastructure providers, and governance participants.

marsbit1h ago

$292 Million KelpDAO Cross-Chain Bridge Hack: Who Should Foot the Bill?

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.

941 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