Gumi and SBI launch ¥3B Bitcoin and altcoin fund

Gumi and SBI Financial Services will begin operating a ¥3 billion (about $18.3 million) crypto asset fund on Saturday through SBI Crypto Fund, a joint venture 51% owned by SBI Financial Services and 49% by Gumi subsidiary gC Labs. The fund will target Bitcoin and major alternative coins and use staking, portfolio rebalancing and hedging techniques to manage returns and limit downside risk.

Backed by Daiwa Securities Group and other investors, the vehicle is structured for institutional participation. The fund’s managers plan active portfolio strategies intended to generate income and provide downside protection while documenting operational processes such as custody and trading.

Investments will focus on large-cap crypto assets, with a primary emphasis on Bitcoin and top altcoins. The fund will use staking to earn network rewards by locking eligible tokens, periodic rebalancing to maintain target allocations across holdings, and hedging to reduce exposure to price swings. The structure is designed to give corporate investors managed exposure to digital assets without requiring them to hold the tokens directly.

The launch expands Gumi’s existing crypto activity. Gumi manages its own holdings, with a concentration in XRP, and provides portfolio management services through Hinode Technologies. Company filings show crypto assets on Gumi’s balance sheet rose to ¥14.13 billion as of April 30, 2026, up from ¥7.58 billion a year earlier.

SBI Crypto Fund will operate the capital and report performance and operational metrics to investors. The fund’s ¥3 billion size places it in a mid-sized category intended for active institutional management rather than a broad retail offering.

The initiative arrives as some Japanese firms prepare for potential regulatory changes around crypto exchange-traded products. The fund’s managers intend to record an operational track record that covers custody, trading and risk controls ahead of any revisions to rules on crypto ETFs.