Startale Group and Japan’s SBI Holdings have unveiled Strium, a layer-1 blockchain engineered as an exchange-layer and settlement network for institutional trading of foreign exchange, tokenized equities and real-world assets (RWAs). The platform is designed to bridge traditional off-chain finance and on-chain infrastructure, supporting compliant post-trade processes for institutional participants.
‘Tokenization is an inevitable trend, and equities tokenization is clearly the next big market,’ said Sota Watanabe, CEO of Startale Group. He said Strium will enable compliant dividend and royalty payments and help connect legacy financial systems with blockchain-native rails.
The launch follows a strategic partnership the two firms announced in August 2025 and coincides with proof-of-concept demonstrations intended to validate the network’s technical foundations. Initial activity on Strium will involve trading synthetic versions of U.S. and Japanese stocks and commodities — derivative-style instruments that do not confer direct ownership of underlying shares. The roadmap calls for expanding to tokenized representations of actual shares and asset-backed tokens accessible to users who complete identity checks and meet local regulatory requirements. A separate, open layer will allow participation by users who do not meet those stricter onboarding conditions.
Current proof-of-concept testing focuses on settlement efficiency, resilience under heavy transaction volumes and interoperability with legacy financial systems and other blockchain networks. The project plans to launch a public testnet as the next step toward commercial deployment.
SBI Holdings contributes regulated financial infrastructure and multiple licensed entities to the joint venture. Group companies have been involved in regulated digital-asset initiatives previously, including work on a proposed yen stablecoin structure with Shinsei Trust & Banking and SBI VC Trade. Startale and SBI expect to continue discussions with regulators in Japan and other jurisdictions as they roll the project into local markets.
Strium’s debut comes amid broader institutional moves toward tokenized markets. The New York Stock Exchange and Intercontinental Exchange have announced plans to build platforms for tokenized stocks and ETFs that would enable 24/7 trading and near-instant settlement using blockchain-based post-trade infrastructure and stablecoins, subject to regulatory approval. Industry research, such as a recent Sygnum report, has also signaled that traditional financial institutions are increasingly adopting blockchain-based infrastructure, with tokenization projected to reach mainstream adoption in 2026.
This report aims to summarize the key details of Strium’s launch and its place within the evolving tokenization landscape. Readers should consult official releases from Startale, SBI and relevant regulators for the most current and complete information.