What Startale Group does

Startale Group Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-based Web3 infrastructure company founded in January 2023 by Sota Watanabe, operating a vertically integrated blockchain stack organized across three layers. At the infrastructure layer, Startale co-develops three networks: Soneium, an Ethereum Layer 2 built on OP Stack via the Sony Block Solutions Labs JV with Sony Group Corporation (mainnet launched January 2025; 500M+ processed transactions, 5.4M active wallets, 250+ dApps, ranked #2 Layer-2 by Rollup.wtf); Strium, a purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain for trading and settlement of tokenized securities and real-world assets co-developed with SBI Holdings (unveiled February 2026); and Astar Network, a Polkadot-based ecosystem chain. At the ecosystem layer, the company operates Startale Cloud Services (a subscription-based B2B developer platform offering wallet, oracle, node, indexer, Layer 2, and Account Abstraction services via portal.scs.startale.com) and issues two stablecoins — USDSC (built on M0's universal platform, backed by short-term US Treasuries) and JPYSC (Japan's first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin issued by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank as a Type III Electronic Payment Instrument under Japan's 2022 Payment Services Act, launched June 2026).

The application layer centers on Startale App, a consumer SuperApp on Soneium featuring a non-custodial smart wallet via Account Abstraction (supporting Web2-style Gmail login), USDSC Earn Vault, gamified missions with STAR Points rewards, a referral program (10% of referee STAR Points, 3 invite codes per user), and a catalog of 16+ Mini Apps including AI-agent-generated games via Superstake/Intraverse. Revenue mechanics span subscription-based cloud services, transaction fees on Strium's exchange layer for tokenized securities, stablecoin utility and settlement across USDSC/JPYSC, and investment returns from Startale Ventures portfolio companies (Velodrome, Kyo Finance). Distribution is anchored by SBI Holdings' 80M+ Japanese customer base and Sony's entertainment ecosystem integrations (Sony Music, Sony Pictures, Sony Bank, aibo SBT), with a localized Japan Edition launched June 2026.

Startale has raised approximately $70M+ in disclosed funding across seed ($3.5M, June 2023), seed extension ($3.5M, February 2024), and a $63M Series A (January-March 2026); SBI Group's $50M second close made Startale an equity-method affiliate. Operations are fully remote with offices in Singapore (HQ), Tokyo, Abu Dhabi (ADGM via Hub71+ Cohort 18), and Road Town (BVI). The company has approximately 51-100 employees and is actively hiring across engineering, product, and BD roles. Investor syndicate includes Sony Group, SBI Group, Samsung Next Ventures, UOB Venture Management, and UVM Signum Blockchain Fund.

Name

Startale Group

Legal name

Startale Group Pte. Ltd. (Company Registration No. 202300228C)

Website

https://startale.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Startale Group is a Singapore-based Web3 infrastructure company building a vertically integrated blockchain stack spanning the Soneium Ethereum L2 (with Sony), Strium Layer 1 for tokenized securities (with SBI Holdings), USDSC and JPYSC stablecoins, and the Startale App consumer SuperApp serving institutional finance, entertainment, and consumer crypto users globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Infrastructure

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Account Abstraction & Smart Wallet Tooling (AA SDKs, paymasters, session keys) (FSAPABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Blockchain Data & Indexing Infrastructure for Finance (Nodes, Indexers, Oracles) (FSAGAMAL), Smart Contract Wallets / Account Abstraction (MPC/AA, social recovery, paymasters) (FSAPACAB)

Keywords

• Blockchain infrastructure
• Tokenized securities platform
• Stablecoin issuance
• Web3 developer services
• Layer 2 blockchain

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Startale Cloud Services (B2B developer platform): Subscription-based recurring revenue from Startale Cloud Services (wallet services, block explorer, oracle, Layer 2 solutions, node services, indexer services) sold to developers and enterprises on subscription plans with potential customized plans
2. Strium Exchange Transaction Fees: Transaction and trading fees on Strium's exchange layer for tokenized securities and RWA-linked instruments across 24/7 spot and derivatives markets
3. Stablecoin Utility / Settlement (USDSC, JPYSC): Yield distribution, onchain dividends, and programmable settlement rails powered by USDSC (M0-based, US Treasury-backed) and JPYSC (Shinsei Trust-issued, Japanese yen-backed) stablecoins across the Startale and Soneium ecosystems
4. Startale Ventures (Strategic Investments): Investment returns from Startale Ventures portfolio companies (Kyo Finance, Velodrome, and others) supporting the Superchain and SuperApp ecosystems

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Startale Group develops and operates a vertically integrated blockchain infrastructure stack consisting of three Layer 1/Layer 2 networks (Soneium Ethereum L2, Strium L1 for tokenized securities, Astar Network), a B2B developer platform (Startale Cloud Services offering wallet, oracle, node, indexer, and Account Abstraction APIs), two stablecoins (USDSC and Japan's first trust-backed JPYSC yen stablecoin), and the consumer-facing Startale App SuperApp with non-custodial smart wallet, Mini Apps, and STAR Points rewards on Soneium.

Product overview

Startale Group operates a vertically integrated blockchain stack organized across three business layers — Blockchain Infrastructure, Ecosystem, and Application — built on a single end-to-end architecture. At the Blockchain Infrastructure layer, Startale co-develops three networks: Soneium (an Ethereum Layer 2 entertainment blockchain co-developed with Sony Block Solutions Labs), Strium (a Layer 1 blockchain for tokenized securities and RWAs co-developed with SBI Holdings), and Astar Network (a Polkadot-based ecosystem chain whose ASTR token is used inside Soneium). At the Ecosystem layer, Startale Cloud Services (SCS) exposes wallet, oracle, node, indexer, layer-2, and Account Abstraction tooling to developers via portal.scs.startale.com, and the company issues a stablecoin portfolio comprising Startale USD (USDSC) — built natively on M0's universal stablecoin platform — and JPYSC, Japan's first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin issued by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank under the Payment Services Act, with distribution by SBI VC Trade. At the Application layer, the Startale App serves as a SuperApp consumer gateway combining a non-custodial smart wallet, USDSC Earn Vault, asset management, payments, STAR Points rewards, and a catalog of 16+ Mini Apps (including Superstake-powered agentic games from Intraverse and SuperVerse reward integrations) built on the Startale and Soneium ecosystem. Startale Ventures operates as the investment arm funding ecosystem projects to strengthen the Superchain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Soneium: Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain co-developed with Sony Group Corporation through Sony Block Solutions Labs; entertainment-focused blockchain for creators, gaming, fan engagement, and IP.
• Strium
• Astar Network
• Startale App
• Startale USD (USDSC)
• JPYSC
• Startale Ventures

Products and services

• Soneium Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain co-developed with Sony Block Solutions Labs, positioned as an entertainment-native blockchain ecosystem targeting gaming, creator economies, and fan engagement. As of early 2026, it had processed 500M+ transactions, hosted 5.4M active wallets and 250+ live dApps, and was ranked #2 among Layer-2 networks by Rollup.wtf.
• Strium Purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain for tokenized securities and real-world asset (RWA) trading, co-developed with SBI Holdings. Supports 24/7 spot and derivatives markets, AI-agent participation in market activity, and near-instant cross-border settlement, targeting the $18.9 trillion tokenized asset market opportunity across Asia's onchain securities markets.
• Astar Network Blockchain network operating on Polkadot that provides the ASTR token as a core asset of the Soneium ecosystem; processes approximately 350,000 daily transactions and is part of the Startale ecosystem.
• Startale App All-in-one SuperApp gateway to the Startale and Soneium ecosystem functioning as a non-custodial wallet with smart wallet (Account Abstraction) support, asset management, payments, USDSC Earn Vault, and a growing catalog of Mini Apps (games and utilities). Onboarded 300,000+ users since launch; includes Japan Edition with Japanese-language interface and JPY portfolio display.
• Startale USD (USDSC) Institutional-grade U.S. dollar stablecoin built natively on M0's universal stablecoin platform, fully backed by short-term U.S. Treasuries, serving as the native digital dollar within the Startale App and broader Soneium ecosystem for payments, swaps, transactions, and rewarding engagement through STAR Points.
• JPYSC Japan's first trust bank-backed Japanese yen stablecoin, issued by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank as a Type 3 Electronic Payment Instrument under Japan's regulatory framework. Co-developed with SBI Holdings, with SBI VC Trade as the primary distribution partner and Startale Group leading technical development; no transaction caps and up to 50% Japanese Government Bond reserves permitted.
• Startale Cloud Services (SCS) Subscription-based blockchain infrastructure platform providing wallet services, block explorer, oracle, layer 2 solutions, node services, indexer services, and an Account Abstraction Developer Platform to developers and enterprises. Accessed via portal.scs.startale.com with documentation at docs.startale.com; quote-based subscription pricing with recurring billing governed by Singapore law.

Quantifiable outcome

• $63M Series A closed (March 2026); $50M from SBI Group + $13M from Sony Innovation Fund
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Shinsei Trust & Banking (SBI Shinsei Trust Bank)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 24 June 2026Issuing entity of JPYSC, Japan's first Type III trust-backed yen stablecoin, under Japan's 2022 Payment Services Act framework. Holds segregated reserves (up to 50% Japanese Government Bonds allowed) to provide statutory claims to token holders. The official JPYSC launch occurred on June 24, 2026.
• SBI VC TradecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 June 2026Licensed crypto exchange service provider serving as the primary distribution partner for JPYSC stablecoin; handles trading and circulation within Japan's regulatory framework. Also launched USDC lending service in March 2026.
• Sunnyside Labs (Privacy Boost)coreTechnology or Integration · 28 April 2026Selected as the official privacy partner of the Startale App on Soneium. Privacy Boost deploys natively on Soneium using a hybrid ZK + TEE architecture with sub-500ms proof generation and 1,800+ TPS throughput. Provides Shield (shielded balances), Private Transfer (private P2P), and Private Card Spending features with selective auditability via Audit View model. First consumer-facing application integration for Privacy Boost.
• Hub71 (Mubadala / Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 April 2026Selected for Hub71+ Digital Assets Cohort 18; one of 27 companies chosen from over 2,400 global applicants. Establishes Startale operations within Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM); connects Startale to regulators, institutional partners, and capital providers driving the Middle East digital asset strategy. Backed by Mubadala and the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development.
• Digital Securities (SBI 20% stake)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 March 2026SBI Holdings announced parallel investments in tokenized trading venues: ¥8 billion ($50M) in Startale Group and a 20% stake in Digital Securities. Both investments target blockchain trading infrastructure and tokenized securities trading with global ambitions.
• Nonagon Capital (Hotlink Group company)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 March 2026Strategic business partnership to jointly promote proof-of-concept experiments and business development using JPYSC. Focuses on AI agent payment use cases, including agent-to-agent settlements, autonomous purchasing, and real-time micropayments; targets $17.5 trillion AI agent-driven commerce market by 2030 (per Deloitte projection).
• Nonagon Capital (AI agent payments POC)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 27 February 2026Nonagon Capital partnership with Startale Group to develop JPYSC proof-of-concept initiatives for AI agent-driven payment use cases including agent-to-agent settlements, autonomous purchasing, and real-time micropayments. Deloitte projects AI agent-driven commerce at $17.5 trillion by 2030.
• Sony Group Corporation (strategic Web3 / fintech infrastructure)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 January 2026Sony Group's investment in Startale (via Sony Network Communications) signals a shift toward infrastructure-focused Web3 partnerships. Sony Network Communications president Jun Watanabe joined Startale's board. Deal positions Sony to influence product direction and explore integration with digital platforms and cloud services.
• M0 (stablecoin platform)coreTechnology or Integration · 29 January 2026M0's universal stablecoin platform is the underlying technology for Startale USD (USDSC), which is built as a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin backed by short-term U.S. Treasuries and live on Soneium mainnet as a native settlement layer for applications and payments.
• Startale Superstars (Mini App incubator winners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2025Startale Group launched Startale Superstars incubation program in November 2025 with $250,000 USD prize pool; winners include Awakening of Guardians, Burrow Bash, Clash Horse, Cool Cats, Dice or Die, El Hexa, Heroes of Hecanos, Morning Moon Pocket, Packflip, Pocket Knights, World of Trinity, Press A, NekoCat, CardWars, Claw Machine, Force Flip, Bloklab Oy, and others; hands-on BD, marketing, and infrastructure support from Tenderly, SQD, and Common.
• SBI Holdings (Strium and onchain trading JV)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 August 2025Joint venture partnership (August 2025) to develop an all-in-one onchain trading platform for tokenized stocks and RWAs. Led to the creation of Strium (Layer 1 blockchain for tokenized securities and RWA trading) unveiled February 2026. Also resulted in two joint venture companies for R&D and business expansion.
• Startale Ventures Portfolio (Kyo Finance, Velodrome)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 March 2025Startale Ventures invested in Kyo Finance (Aug 2025) for compliant multi-chain DeFi infrastructure and in Velodrome (March 2025) to strengthen the Superchain Ecosystem. Startale Ventures was launched January 2025 to drive Web3 for billions.
• Sony Group Corporation (via Sony Block Solutions Labs)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2024Joint venture 'Sony Block Solutions Labs' (SBSL) co-developed the Soneium Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain (launched mainnet January 2025). Soneium has processed 500M+ transactions, hosts 5.4M active wallets and 250+ dApps. Drives Startale's entertainment and IP-centric positioning with integrations across Sony Music, Sony Pictures, Sony Bank, and Sony's aibo robot SBT collection.
• BOBGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2023Capital and business alliance between Startale Labs and BOBG announced July 2023.
• Astar Network / Astar FoundationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 June 2023Startale is a Singapore-based Web3 joint venture between Sony Network Communications and the Astar Foundation (Astar Network operates on Polkadot; ASTR token is the core asset of the Soneium ecosystem). Partnership includes Web3 Incubation Program; Startale manages Astar Network operations. Astar processes ~350,000 daily transactions.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Securitize: Tokenization platform for regulated securities and RWAs; competes with Strium at the issuance and distribution layer for institutional onchain securities.

Direct peers

• Polygon Labs: Major Ethereum L2 ecosystem with a broad suite of scaling and tokenization tooling; competes with Soneium for L2 dApp and developer mindshare and with Strium for tokenized-RWA infrastructure.
• Optimism Foundation: Operator of the OP Stack that Soneium is built on; a Superchain-aligned L2 ecosystem and the most direct architectural and ecosystem peer to Soneium.
• Circle (USDC): Issuer of USDC, the dominant dollar stablecoin; competes directly with Startale's USDSC for settlement and stablecoin utility on Soneium and across Web3.
• Ondo Finance: Tokenized US Treasuries and RWA product company; competes with Strium for the institutional tokenized-RWA opportunity and with USDSC/JPYSC for onchain yield products.
• JPYC Inc. Issuer of the pre-existing JPYC Japanese yen stablecoin; the most direct competitor to Startale's JPYSC in Japan's regulated yen stablecoin market.
• Alchemy: Leading Web3 developer infrastructure platform offering node, indexer, and API services; competes with Startale Cloud Services for B2B developer subscriptions.
• Astar Network (Sota Watanabe origin ecosystem): Polkadot-based parachain whose foundation Startale founder Sota Watanabe created; Astar is now operated by Startale Group and is a sister network to Soneium in the Startale stack.
• Phantom: Leading consumer crypto SuperApp and non-custodial wallet; competes with the Startale App for consumer wallet share, Mini App engagement, and onchain consumer UX.

Broad incumbents

• Coinbase (Base): Base is the largest consumer-facing Ethereum L2 and a direct competitor to Soneium in the same OP Stack family; Coinbase's distribution and liquidity far exceed Soneium's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StartaleGroup
• GitHubgithub.com/StartaleGroup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@StartaleGroup
• Facebookfacebook.com/StartaleGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startalelabs
• Instagraminstagram.com/startalegroup

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Startale Group