Japan Financial Giant Says XRP Will Be Very Expensive
SBI Holdings, one of Japan’s largest financial conglomerates and the biggest external shareholder in Ripple, has continued to deepen its commitment to XRP through a series of investments and retail-facing products, fueling renewed attention around the token’s long-term price prospects.
According to unconfirmed reports, SBI CEO Yoshitaka Kitao has been attributed with saying “XRP will be very expensive,” a phrase that has circulated widely across crypto media. However, the exact wording traces to secondary coverage and a 2023 social-media clip, not to a current official SBI transcript or company release.
What is verifiable is a pattern of escalating XRP commitment from SBI that goes well beyond words.
SBI’s Documented XRP Strategy Speaks Louder Than Any Quote
On October 21, 2025, SBI Holdings announced it would contribute $200 million to Evernorth, a vehicle that would use the proceeds primarily to purchase XRP on the open market. The stated goal was to build one of the world’s largest public XRP treasuries.
SBI said in the same filing that it has long promoted the practical use of XRP and views institutional XRP adoption as strategically significant. For investors tracking which altcoins have institutional backing, SBI’s actions represent one of the clearest corporate endorsements of XRP on record.
The company’s Ripple relationship dates back to 2016, when SBI first invested in the payments firm. As of a June 2025 filing, SBI held approximately 9% of Ripple as its largest external shareholder and operated SBI Ripple Asia, a joint venture established that same year.
XRP-Linked Retail Products Signal Long-Term Conviction
SBI’s XRP thesis extends to retail investors in Japan. On February 20, 2026, the company announced a JPY 10.0 billion security-token bond targeting individual investors, with eligible buyers receiving XRP benefits tied to their subscription amount.
That bond structure, independently confirmed by Ledger Insights, reflects a deliberate strategy of distributing XRP through traditional financial products. It is unusual for a publicly traded conglomerate to attach cryptocurrency perks to a fixed-income offering.
For context on how Ripple’s own treasury management initiatives complement SBI’s distribution efforts, XRP’s expanding use in institutional settings adds a layer of utility beyond speculative trading.
Where XRP Stands Now
XRP traded at $1.31 on April 4, 2026, with a market capitalization of roughly $80.41 billion and 24-hour trading volume of about $859.95 million. It ranked No. 5 by market cap, down 0.52% over the prior 24 hours and well below its all-time high of $3.65.
The broader crypto market showed signs of stress, with the Fear and Greed Index reading 11, classified as Extreme Fear. That sentiment backdrop stands in contrast to SBI’s continued willingness to deploy capital into XRP-linked products.
SBI has noted that XRP is one of the few digital assets with a clarifying regulatory framework in the United States, a factor that may inform its institutional positioning. Whether that framework, combined with SBI’s growing institutional commitment during a period of weak retail participation, translates into higher prices remains an open question.
The documented record, a $200 million treasury investment, a decade-long Ripple stake, and XRP-linked bonds for retail investors, amounts to one of the most sustained institutional bets on any single digital asset. For XRP holders watching the gap between $1.31 and the $3.65 all-time high, SBI’s actions provide more concrete signal than any recycled quote.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
