Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Holdings and blockchain technology firm Startale Group have unveiled Strium Network, a purpose-built Layer‑1 blockchain platform designed to support the trading and settlement of tokenized securities and real‑world assets (RWAs) in Asia’s emerging on-chain capital markets.

A Blockchain Built for Tokenized Securities

Strium is designed as a foundational exchange infrastructure layer where tokenized equities, commodities, and other real‑world assets can be traded on-chain 24/7, bypassing the limits of traditional trading hours. Its blockchain-native design enables continuous markets, near-instant settlement, and deeper liquidity across both spot and derivatives trading.

Rather than acting as an issuer or custodian of tokenized assets itself, Strium provides the core technology stack for order matching, trade execution, and settlement, while regulated intermediaries handle issuance and custody.

This launch is the first major deliverable from the strategic partnership SBI and Startale announced in August 2025, which also included plans for a yen-denominated stablecoin and a trading platform for tokenized assets.

The collaboration combines SBI’s financial infrastructure and wide customer reach with Startale’s blockchain engineering and R&D expertise, signaling a deliberate push to merge legacy finance with Web3 innovation.

Institutional Focus and Strategic Implications

Tokenized securities are rapidly gaining traction globally, offering advantages like faster settlement, fractional ownership, and access to previously illiquid assets. With regulators in Asia, particularly Japan, taking a progressive stance on tokenized financial products, Strium is positioned to be a compliant, institutional-ready solution.

The network has completed internal proofs of concept (PoCs) validating settlement efficiency, resilience under high load, and interoperability with traditional financial systems. A public testnet is planned in 2026, allowing early partners and developers to test core features ahead of a production release.

Industry observers highlight the platform’s potential to bridge traditional finance and on-chain markets, enabling faster settlement, deeper liquidity, and expanded access to illiquid or restricted asset classes. Unlike general-purpose blockchains like Ethereum or Solana, Strium is specifically engineered for regulated capital markets, making it an attractive option for institutional players exploring tokenized equities, fixed income, commodities, and other RWAs.

While timelines for public launch and full regulatory approvals remain under development, the Strium Network represents a significant step toward mainstream adoption of tokenized securities, signaling growing interest in the convergence of blockchain technology and traditional financial markets.