Japanese game developer Gumi will begin operating an estimated ¥3 billion ($18.3 million) crypto asset fund alongside SBI Financial Services on August 1. Operating under the name SBI Crypto Fund I, the fund is structured as a private placement through a silent partnership, a common investment framework in Japan.
Under this partnership, ownership is split between the two entities. SBI Financial Services holds a 51% stake in the operating company, while the remaining 49% is held by gC Labs, a subsidiary of Gumi. The fund has also secured investment commitments from Daiwa Securities Group alongside several other undisclosed investors.
Their core investment allocation focuses on Bitcoin and major listed altcoins. To maximize value, management strategies include staking, portfolio rebalancing, and hedging. The fund will have an operating term of three years managed by SBI Crypto Fund LLC.
Why the Initial 2025 Plan Was Delayed
The fund’s primary mission is to bridge the crypto asset market with corporate entities in Japan. The partners initially considered launching operations in 2025, but decided to postpone the move to reassess market conditions.
The delay provides them with room to build an institutional portfolio management track record ahead of a potential lifting of Japan’s domestic crypto ETF ban. According to multiple reports, Japan’s first Bitcoin ETF could arrive in 2028, coinciding with regulatory plans to revise the nation’s investment fund management frameworks.
Not Just Bitcoin: Key Focus on XRP
For Gumi, navigating the crypto market is familiar territory. Its financial report as of April 30, 2026, shows the gaming firm holding ¥14.13 billion in crypto assets, marking an 86% increase from ¥7.58 billion in the prior year. During the last fiscal year, Gumi recorded a valuation gain of ¥2.63 billion solely from its crypto asset portfolio.
Although it invests in Bitcoin, Gumi’s crypto operations center primarily on XRP. The company adopted XRP as a corporate treasury asset, a decision made after approving a ¥1 billion Bitcoin purchase.
This early initiative by Gumi and SBI highlights how domestic firms are laying financial infrastructure well ahead of the starting line. When Japan’s Bitcoin ETF framework finally opens in 2028, the players best positioned to capture institutional inflows will be those already deploying capital today.
Reported by crypto.news.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only, not financial advice. Cryptocurrency assets are highly volatile and carry significant risk. Always do your own research (DYOR) and never invest more than you can afford to lose.
