Japan’s SBI Securities Launches Crypto CFDs

Japanese online trading giant SBI Securities, known for offering mainstream assets, has launched cryptocurrency contracts for differences (CFDs), the first crypto product on its platform.

The broker has added CFDs on a range of popular cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and Dogecoin. The platform will also allow crypto CFD trading over the weekend.

B2C2 as Liquidity Provider

The trading service provider has onboarded B2C2 as the primary liquidity provider of its crypto offerings.

SBI Securities is part of the larger SBI Group, which also owns a 90 per cent stake in B2C2.

Read more: Japan’s SBI Group Eyes Tokenised Asset Launch with Chainlink Partnership

“SBI Securities’ entrance into the digital assets market with this product launch is monumental, enabling a previously untapped segment of traditional asset investors to easily gain exposure to crypto products from their existing accounts,” said David Rogers, B2C2 CEO, Asia-Pacific.

CFDs are leveraged derivatives that allow traders to take long or short positions speculating on the underlying asset's price. However, traders do not own the underlying, which removes the need for custody in the case of cryptocurrencies.

These products are more suitable for active traders who open and close positions in minutes, hours or days. However, overnight leveraged positions in CFDs often attract margin fees.

The minimum margin required for over-the-counter crypto CFD transactions on SBI Securities is 50 per cent of the open position.

Crypto Is Booming in Japan

Although this is the first crypto product offered by SBI Securities, another unit of the conglomerate operates a crypto exchange, SBI VC Trade. B2C2 also provides market-making services to the spot crypto exchange.

Japan now has 32 licensed crypto exchanges, with seven more platforms awaiting approval. The country also plans to categorise cryptocurrencies as financial products under a bill expected in 2026.

Meanwhile, B2C2 is reportedly seeking to raise $200 million from external investors. Part of these funds would be used to reduce SBI’s 90 per cent stake in the company. However, there has been no official confirmation from B2C2 or SBI.