SBI CEO Joins Ripple’s Board of Directors To Tighten Cooperation

The Ripple (XRP) project has welcomed the CEO of Japanese company SBI Holdings, Yoshitaka Kitao, to its Board of Directors. Kitao replaced Takashi Okita on April 25.

Kitao said,

Blockchain and digital assets are changing the way we move money around the world, and Ripple is the driving force behind this positive change. I am excited by this opportunity to lend my expertise and be part of the company’s next phase of growth.

Chris Larsen, Executive Chairman of the board, was excited to have Mr.Kitao on board, expecting that he can expand development in the Asian market,

I am excited to welcome Mr. Kitao to our Board of Directors. From conventional financial markets to digital asset markets, his deep understanding of the financial services industry will offer valuable business and financial expertise to help Ripple continue to scale. Approximately half of our customers are located in Asia-Pac today, and we’re rapidly expanding our global footprint across the region. Mr. Kitao comes at a perfect time for Ripple as we look to deepen our customer base in Asia and beyond.

Ripple (XRP) Looking Good in Asia

SBI Holdings and Mr. Kitao are both very optimistic about the potential of Ripple, having spoken favourably and done much for the project. Kitao also said that he expects several banks in Japan to use the XRP token by 2025. He has also said that tighter cooperation will Ripple will help spread the use of SBI-backed MoneyTap app.

Japanese investors are also hopeful about the XRP token, believing it to be the token most likely to rise in 2019, according to a survey by Japan’s GMO.