SBI to buy majority stake in MAS‑licensed Coinhako to scale tokenization and stablecoins
SBI Holdings’ unit SBI Ventures Asset signed a nonbinding letter of intent on 13 February 2026 to acquire a majority stake in Singapore crypto exchange Coinhako (Holdbuild Pte. Ltd.). The proposed deal combines a capital injection into the Coinhako Group with share purchases from existing shareholders; final structure, pricing and closing remain subject to negotiation and regulatory approvals. Coinhako operates via Hako Technology Pte. Ltd. under a Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Major Payment Institution (MPI) licence, enabling regulated digital payment token services in Singapore, and runs related entities such as Alpha Hako. SBI says the acquisition will fold Coinhako into its digital-assets ecosystem to expand a global corridor for tokenized stocks, stablecoins and other tokenization services. SBI has previously invested in Coinhako via funds and is active in tokenization, stablecoins and Web3 infrastructure partnerships. No financial terms or timetable were disclosed. For traders: the deal gives SBI a regulated Singapore foothold and signals institutional focus on regulated tokenization and stablecoin infrastructure — developments that may increase institutional flows and product issuance over time, though short‑term price moves for individual tokens are uncertain pending deal closure and regulatory outcomes.
Neutral
The acquisition intent is strategically positive for institutional adoption and infrastructure: SBI gaining a MAS‑licensed exchange in Singapore supports longer‑term growth in tokenization and stablecoin product issuance, which is bullish for institutional demand and the regulated crypto ecosystem. However, the announcement is a letter of intent without disclosed financial terms, closing timetable or regulatory clearances. That limits immediate market impact. Traders should expect limited short‑term price reaction for individual tokens tied to Coinhako until the deal is finalized or further details emerge. Over the medium to long term, successful integration and product launches (tokenized stocks, yen or other stablecoins) could increase on‑exchange liquidity and institutional flows, supporting a bullish structural outlook for products offered through Coinhako. Given these mixed timing factors, the near‑term effect is neutral while the long‑term directional bias is positive contingent on execution and approvals.