SBI Securities and Tokio Marine Asset Management plan to launch Japan’s first digital securities backed by private equity, targeting retail investors with a minimum investment of around ¥1 million ($6,700), Nikkei reported.
The partnership marks an attempt to democratize access to an asset class historically reserved for institutions and wealthy individuals. Tokio Marine Asset Management, a unit of insurance giant Tokio Marine Holdings, will structure the digital securities product, while SBI Securities will handle distribution through online and physical channels starting later this year.
The move comes as traditional financial institutions explore tokenization to expand market access, though questions remain about operational complexities and investor protection in relatively untested digital securities markets. Private equity investments typically require significantly higher minimum commitments and longer lock-up periods than conventional securities.
Japan’s regulatory framework for digital securities remains in development, with various financial institutions testing blockchain-based products under the country’s regulatory sandbox system. The success of such initiatives depends largely on regulatory clarity and investor appetite for alternative digital investment vehicles.
SBI Holdings, the parent company of SBI Securities, has been expanding its digital asset operations, while Tokio Marine Asset Management manages alternative investments alongside traditional assets for institutional clients. The partnership represents both companies’ efforts to tap retail demand for previously inaccessible investment opportunities, though the actual market reception remains to be seen.
