Bitcoin.com News Interviews
What does crypto look like in one of the world’s most regulated markets?
At TEAMZ Summit 2026 in Tokyo, Matthew Owens sits down with Kondo Tomohiko, CEO of SBI VC Trade the only licensed stablecoin exchange in Japan to explore stablecoins, regulation, and adoption.
From USDC lending to Japan’s upcoming JPY-backed stablecoin, this episode reveals how strict regulation is shaping long-term opportunity.
🔍 Topics Covered:• SBI VC Trade’s stablecoin license in Japan• USDC lending (up to 10% promo, ~5% target)• JPYSC (yen-backed stablecoin, Q2 2026)• RLUSD + 1M yen cap on foreign stablecoins• Japan FSA regulation & Coincheck impact• Crypto adoption: 14M users, 0.2% allocation• Staking culture in Japan• Metaplanet’s ~35,000 BTC treasury
🎙 Guest: Kondo Tomohiko (Representative Director and President, SBI VC Trade)
🎤 Host: Matthew Owens (Bitcoin.com) 📍 TEAMZ Summit 2026, Tokyo
Chapters:
00:31 - Introduction and Company Overview
01:24 - Full-scale Introduction and Gaps
02:35 - USB-C and Lending Services
03:45 - Interest Rates and Campaigns
05:02 - Economic Context in Japan
06:05 - Conference and Fake Merchants
07:19 - Company Operations and Innovations
08:31 - RLUSD and XRP Discussion
10:26 - Licensing and Regulations
11:37 - Direct-to-Sales Payment Method
12:59 - Cryptography and Stablecoin Licenses
14:31 - Regulatory Environment in Japan
17:05 - Coin Check Incident and Regulations
18:29 - Industry Impact and Protection
20:20 - Japanese Market and Investments
22:28 - Young People's Interest in Investments
24:12 - SBI Group and Asset Classes 25:09 - Staking and Stable Income
27:07 - Conference with Metplanet
28:14 - Metaplanet and Market Insights
29:36 - Closing Remarks
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