SBI Holdings CEO Suggests Ripple IPO Could Be a Decade Away
The prospect of Ripple Labs going public has resurfaced in discussions, fueled by SBI Holdings CEO Yoshitaka Kitao, who has provided one of the most concrete long-term timelines yet from a significant Ripple shareholder. Kitao, the chief executive and president of SBI, a major Japanese financial conglomerate, made remarks that have since garnered attention within the XRP community.
Discussing his long-term investment strategy, Kitao indicated a willingness to invest between $626 million and $1.25 billion in Ripple upon its public debut.
SBI Chief Believes Ripple Needs to Go Public
The question of whether Ripple Labs will eventually list on a public exchange has been a persistent one for years, despite consistent efforts by Ripple executives to temper expectations regarding an Initial Public Offering (IPO).
Speaking at a recent conference in Tokyo, Kitao stated his intention to make a substantial investment in Ripple when the company becomes publicly traded. He suggested that Ripple would be prepared to commit ¥100 billion, or even ¥200 billion, to fully realize its objectives.
Intriguingly, the SBI Holdings CEO also projected that Ripple might go public in approximately 12 years, emphasizing his belief that such a move is necessary for the company. This timeline places a potential listing around 2038, well beyond the current economic cycle.
Kitao’s comments carry weight because he is not merely an outside observer or an XRP commentator speculating on price catalysts. SBI Holdings has been a steadfast supporter of Ripple since 2016, investing in the company and co-founding SBI Ripple Asia, a joint venture aimed at leveraging Ripple’s technology for cross-border payments in Asia. SBI has publicly disclosed its ownership of approximately 9% of Ripple Labs, positioning it as one of the company’s largest external shareholders.
Company Has Consistently Downplayed IPO Talk
Speculation about a Ripple IPO has circulated for years, particularly following the conclusion of its legal dispute with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in 2025. During this period, Ripple has also expanded its operations into areas such as custody services, stablecoin infrastructure, real-world asset tokenization, and strategic acquisitions.
However, Ripple executives have consistently maintained that the company is not in a hurry to pursue an IPO. For instance, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse dismissed IPO discussions last year, stating that the company did not require external funding.
In January 2026, Ripple President Monica Long reiterated that the company intended to remain private, citing its strong balance sheet as sufficient to support continued growth without the need to raise capital from public markets. This stance aligns with Ripple’s recent success in private funding rounds, having raised $500 million at a valuation of approximately $40 billion in late 2025.
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