BlackRock teams up with SBI, Startale – Is Japan the next RWA hotspot?

Traditional asset management and stablecoin infrastructure are converging, and Japan is positioning itself at the center of it. In a major boost for Japan’s race for tokenization, BlackRock partnered with Japan’s SBI Holdings and Startale, aiming to connect tokenized investment funds with a Japanese yen stablecoin. According to the MOU, the trio will study the technological needs, business models, and regulations for connecting BlackRock's tokenized BUIDL fund with JPYSC. SBI's Chairman Yoshitaka Kitao emphasized Japan's need to lead the global shift to on-chain finance, stating that the shift to on-chain finance is 'becoming an unavoidable global trend.' In essence, the…