SBI CEO Disses $10B XRP Claim & Reveals Hidden Ripple Gems!

by

So there’s this little story about a guy named Yoshitaka Kitao, the CEO of SBI Holdings, who decided to roast the internet for saying his company holds a cool $10 billion in XRP. Yeah, you read that right. He’s like, “Hold up, buddy, you’re mixing up a side‐order and the main course.”

Apparently an X account was bragging that SBI is a major partner of Ripple and the “holder of $10 billion in XRP.” Guess they saw Coinhako, a regulated Singapore crypto platform, and thought, “Nice, now we can hype them, right?”

Instead of defending the XRP figure, Kitao point‑punted his real artillery: he owns about 9% of Ripple Labs. And he’s telling us that some folks are just underappreciating that stake. Like a secret sauce anyone forgot to taste.

The “Hidden Asset” That’s Actually Not Hidden at All

Kitao’s response turned the whole online war from a “how much XRP” debate into a “who actually owns more of the thing” discussion. He wasn’t looking to confirm or deny the XRP lump either; he’s putting us in a “private‑market ownership” mind‑set. Because, folks, a percent of a company’s valuation is more exciting than the next price tick.

He tweeted something like: “Not $10 billion in XRP but around 9% of Ripple Lab. So our hidden asset could be much bigger.” And I’m like, yes, that’s exactly the point; it’s a vanity badge of financial prowess.

Court of Value: 9% (Enter the Einstein)

The next day, Kitao goes all philosopher on us, stating that Ripple’s total value includes its entire ecosystem. If you consider that, he’s saying that SBI owns more than 9% of “enormous.” He left it to the viewers to do the math.

“Community member BankXRP mentioned Ripple’s valuation at $50 billion+,” Kitao says. “That turns SBI’s 9% stake into $4.5 billion+.” Anyone who ignores the 9%… obviously doesn’t do their homework.

Let’s do the cheap math. If SBI’s stake is worth over $10 billion, Ripple’s implied valuation would need to exceed roughly $111 billion. Because 10 billion divided by 0.09 is about 111.1 billion. Simple as that.

It’s Not Just a Throw‑away Tweet

On a side note, SBI’s Rubik‑Cube‑like relationship with Ripple started way back in September 2012. Over the years they pumped in, first a few round deals, then a joint venture that read “SBI 60%, Ripple 40%.” The following year in May, they launched the SBI Ripple Asia, which is the new hub for all the crypto rah‑rah. And in December 2019, they were still on the investor roster for Ripple’s $200 million Series C. So it’s not a fluke; it’s a long‑term commitment.

Anyway, at the time of writing, XRP’s price rattles around $1.46. Dig this: one dollar is nothing, but a percent of a multibillion‑dollar valuation? Now that’s a hyper‑current, right?

Read More

2026-02-16 11:22