Startale Group, a blockchain infrastructure company, announced the completion of its $63 million Series A funding round on March 25, 2026. Startale Group builds onchain infrastructure for finance, entertainment, and real-world asset adoption, including Ethereum Layer 2 networks, JPY stablecoin issuance, tokenized securities, and consumer applications. Sony Innovation Fund invested $13 million in the first close in January 2026, while SBI Group invested an additional $50 million in the second close.
Funding Overview
Startale Group completed its Series A round totaling $63 million.
- First close: $13 million from Sony Innovation Fund, announced January 2026.
- Second close: $50 million from SBI Group, Inc. (also known as SBI Holdings), announced March 25, 2026.
Sony Innovation Fund invested in Startale Group to support its blockchain infrastructure. SBI Group invested in Startale Group to deepen their partnership on tokenized securities and stablecoins. The funding supports Startale Group’s vertically integrated approach across institutional and consumer blockchain layers.
About the Company
Startale Group develops blockchain infrastructure that spans Ethereum Layer 2 networks, stablecoin issuance, tokenized securities, and consumer applications.
Key projects include:
- Strium: A Layer 1 blockchain for tokenized securities and real-world asset (RWA) trading.
- JPYSC: A JPY stablecoin co-developed with SBI Group through a joint venture announced in August 2025.
- USDSC: A USD stablecoin for settlement and exchange.
- Startale App: A consumer application providing access to tokenized assets, stablecoins, and onchain experiences on Soneium, an Ethereum Layer 2 network.
Startale Group connects these elements into a SuperApp for seamless onchain financial and consumer experiences. Sota Watanabe serves as CEO of Startale Group. As funding activity continues across the ecosystem, updates like Payy Raises $6 Million reflect growing demand for privacy-focused payment infrastructure alongside broader blockchain adoption.
Investors
- Sony Innovation
- SBI Group
SBI Group operates as one of Japan’s leading financial groups, covering financial services, private equity investment, asset management, crypto-assets, and next-generation businesses. SBI Group established its internet-based financial ecosystem in 1999, spanning securities, banking, and insurance.
Funding History
Startale Group has raised funds across multiple rounds totaling at least $66.5 million.
- Series A (ongoing total: $63.5 million):
- March 25, 2026: $63 million from Sony Innovation Fund and SBI Holdings.
- February 5, 2024: $3.5 million (Series A1) from Samsung Next, UVM Signum Blockchain Fund, and Sony Network.
- Undisclosed round:
- June 27, 2023: $3.5 million from Sony Network Communications.
Prior collaborations include the August 2025 joint venture between SBI Group and Startale Group for tokenized stocks and RWA platforms. SBI Group Chairman Yoshitaka Kitao stated that Startale Group’s on-chain integration expertise complements SBI Group’s digital ecosystem. Startale Group CEO Sota Watanabe noted the funding enables acceleration of tokenized stocks and JPY stablecoin adoption.
Market Context
The Series A reflects partnerships between Startale Group and its investors in onchain financial infrastructure. SBI Group and Startale Group collaborate on Strium and JPYSC, targeting institutional-grade products for banking, securities, and financial services.
Sony Innovation Fund supports Startale Group’s integration of entertainment and blockchain via Soneium. The funding accelerates settlement layers for Asia’s onchain capital markets and consumer access to tokenized assets.
