Japanese Game Developer Joins SBI to Launch Bitcoin & Altcoin Fund

Gumi and SBI Launch 3 Billion Yen Crypto Fund

Japanese game developer Gumi has announced it will begin operating a 3 billion yen (approximately $18.3 million) crypto asset fund with SBI Financial Services, backed by Daiwa Securities Group and other investors. The vehicle, named SBI Crypto Fund I, is set to begin operations on August 1, 2026, carries a three-year term, and is structured as a private placement.

The fund is operated as a joint venture owned 51% by SBI Financial Services and 49% by Gumi subsidiary gC Labs. It will invest primarily in $BTC and major altcoins, deploying a combination of staking, portfolio rebalancing, and hedging strategies.

Bridging Corporate Japan and Crypto Markets

Gumi said the fund's mission is to bridge Japan's corporate sector and the crypto market, while building an operational track record ahead of a possible future lifting of Japan's ban on crypto exchange-traded funds. The launch extends Gumi's broader push into digital assets, which includes managing its own crypto holdings centered on $XRP, portfolio management services through Hinode Technologies, and other crypto investment vehicles.

That push has been substantial. The company's latest annual report shows crypto holdings reached 14.13 billion yen as of April 30, 2026, nearly doubling from 7.58 billion yen a year earlier. Gumi has separately stated its ambition to become Japan's largest corporate holder and operator of $XRP.

The deal also fits into a broader pattern of activity at SBI. The Japanese financial conglomerate has been investing in crypto since 2016, but the pace has accelerated sharply in recent months, spanning stablecoin issuance, exchange acquisitions, and venture funding rounds across the sector.

Sources:
CoinTelegraph: Japanese Game Developer Gumi Launches Bitcoin, Altcoin Fund With SBI
TipRanks: gumi and SBI launch co-creation crypto fund with Daiwa backing
The Block: Why Japan's SBI Holdings is investing big in crypto