- Analysts claim Warren Buffett is indirectly betting on Ripple and XRP via investments in SBI’s Sumitomo Corp.
- Japan is positioned at the forefront of global crypto adoption, which could benefit Ripple and boost Buffett’s Berkshire.
Some crypto market analysts have raised speculations about an investment made by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway in Japan’s Sumitomo Corp.
The analyst argued that Buffett’s firm is indirectly backing Ripple and XRP without admitting it, given his well-known skepticism toward speculative crypto.
Is Buffett Betting Ripple and XRP?
In an X post, market analyst Stellar Rippler grabbed attention by framing Buffett’s actions as a hidden bet on Ripple through its “strongest ally,” Japan’s SBI Holdings.
For context, Ripple has deep roots in Japan via SBI, which co-founded SBI Ripple Asia in 2016 to promote it across Asia. SBI owns about 9% of Ripple Labs and integrates XRP into services like remittances.
Thus, the analyst implied that Berkshire Hathaway’s Japan investment in Sumitomo Corp, a core pillar of the SBI empire, is strategic. The analyst suggested the firm is eyeing utility-driven assets like XRP without the hype by increasing its stake in Sumitomo, positioning it as a gateway to SBI’s blockchain push.
Berkshire first bought stakes in five Japanese trading houses, including Sumitomo, in 2020. By mid-2023, the firm increased its stake to an average of approximately 8.5%.
Sumitomo’s financial arm, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), is part of SBI Ripple Asia’s bank consortium, which tests Ripple for real-time payments. As we discussed earlier, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group is also among the top three banks in Japan, reportedly collaborating to issue a joint yen-pegged stablecoin.
To analyst Stellar Rippler, the Buffett firm is not buying crypto directly, but Sumitomo’s ties to SBI give Berkshire exposure to Ripple’s infrastructure. The analyst believes Buffett is betting on stable giants with fintech upside.
He pointed out that Buffett avoids speculative assets like Bitcoin but invests in efficient systems. For instance, Berkshire owns stakes in Nu Holdings, a Brazilian digital banking company that runs a crypto trading platform.
Why Ripple?
The analyst also forecasted that Japan will become the most Ripple-integrated country after the U.S. He foresees regulators in Japan, banks, and parliament members openly endorsing the XRP role in cross-border settlement.
Stellar Rippler also highlighted statements by SBI CEO Yoshitaka Kitao, who predicted that “Ripple will become the Amazon of blockchain.”
Intriguingly, Japan’s technology efficiency aligns with XRP’s speed. This could make XRP a bridge currency for Asia’s trade.
Moreover, the Japanese parliament recently approved a Bill for a Partial Amendment to the Payment Services Act (PSA) to establish a stable and efficient funds settlement system. This regulation became enforceable from 1 June 2023 and has had a big impact.
A 2025 Chainalysis report, released in September, showed Japan’s crypto adoption grew by 120% year-over-year, the strongest growth rate globally. This positions Japan at the forefront of global crypto adoption.
As Japan’s banks adopt XRP, SBI and Sumitomo benefit, indirectly boosting Berkshire.
Another analyst, Lord Belgrave, commented that Buffett is sitting on an unprecedented cash position. They believe a portion of that capital will eventually migrate toward the new settlement infrastructure, like XRP.
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