Japanese Firms Turn to Bitcoin and XRP Amid Weak Yen

Japanese firms are responding to a persistently weak yen by adding bitcoin and XRP to their corporate treasuries. SBI VC Trade, a cryptocurrency exchange, reports a surge in demand for these assets as companies seek to diversify their reserves. The exchange's registered accounts surpassed 2 million, nearly doubling since 2025, following its merger with BitPoint Japan in April 2026.

SBI VC Trade attributes the increased corporate use of its services, specifically SBIVC for Prime, to the yen's depreciation, prompting companies to mitigate risks associated with holding cash. The firm's broad range of services now includes the distribution of bitcoin or XRP as shareholder perks. Furthermore, the inclusion of stablecoins—digital tokens pegged to fiat currencies—is enhancing crypto adoption among both corporate and retail users in Japan.

In March 2025, SBI VC Trade became the first Japanese exchange to list USDC, a dollar-pegged stablecoin, and more recently introduced Ripple’s RLUSD and JPYSC, a yen-pegged stablecoin launched under Japan's regulatory framework. These efforts reflect a growing interest among Japanese investors in stablecoins and robust treasury strategies.

This trend illustrates a broader shift towards regulated crypto access in Japan, where stringent licensing policies have traditionally kept the market smaller than those in the United States or South Korea. As companies increasingly turn to digital assets, the landscape of the Japanese financial market is evolving in response to economic pressures.