Tokyo-listed game developer Gumi is expanding beyond mobile entertainment with a three-year, ¥3 billion Bitcoin-focused investment fund. Backed by SBI Financial Services, Daiwa Securities Group and other investors, the initiative highlights growing institutional interest in digital assets and could position Gumi for a future shift in Japan’s crypto investment rules.
Key takeaways
- Gumi and SBI Financial Services are launching the approximately $18 million SBI Crypto Fund I.
- The fund will focus mainly on Bitcoin and major altcoins, with staking, rebalancing and hedging strategies.
- Daiwa Securities Group is among the outside investors supporting the private vehicle.
- Gumi says the fund will build market data and experience ahead of possible crypto ETF reforms in Japan.
A fund aimed at institutional investors
SBI Crypto Fund I is scheduled to begin operations on August 1 and will run for three years. It will not be marketed directly to ordinary retail investors, reflecting its structure as a private investment vehicle for professional and institutional participants.
The fund will be operated by SBI Crypto Fund LLC, which is owned 51% by SBI Financial Services and 49% by gC Labs, a wholly owned Gumi subsidiary. Its investment approach will center on Bitcoin and other leading cryptocurrencies, while also incorporating staking, portfolio rebalancing and hedging.
Preparing for possible crypto ETF changes
Gumi said the project is intended to help it develop expertise, market data and an operating record in digital assets. That experience could become valuable if Japan eventually permits domestic investment funds to offer spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds similar to products available in the United States.
Japan currently does not allow local investment funds to provide spot crypto ETFs in the same way as some overseas markets. Gumi’s strategy therefore appears designed not only as an investment initiative, but also as preparation for a potentially more permissive regulatory environment.
Gumi’s longer blockchain history
The fund builds on Gumi’s steady involvement in blockchain technology. The company entered the sector through an investment fund in 2018 and later participated in the development of Brave Frontier Heroes, a blockchain game connected to its existing franchise.
In 2022, Gumi established a dedicated blockchain-gaming subsidiary. That business released Phantom of the Kill: Alternative Imitation in March 2024, an idle role-playing game that allowed players to convert characters into non-fungible tokens and earn OSHI tokens.
What the move means for gaming companies
Gumi’s decision illustrates how game publishers are exploring crypto beyond in-game economies and collectible assets. By investing directly in major digital currencies, the company is seeking exposure to the broader crypto market while gathering knowledge that could support future products and financial services.
The participation of SBI Financial Services and Daiwa Securities also gives the initiative a stronger institutional profile. Although the fund is relatively modest compared with traditional asset-management vehicles, its launch signals that established Japanese companies continue to view Bitcoin and related assets as an area worth developing strategic expertise in.
- Japanese Game Developer Gumi Launches $18M Bitcoin Fund, Bitcoin Foundation.
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