Alpaca Launches US Stock Execution Service for SBI Securities
Alpaca, a global leader in brokerage infrastructure APIs providing access to options, stocks, ETFs, fixed income, and crypto, recently announced the launch of US stock execution service for SBI Securities, Japan’s largest online brokerage firm. This announcement provides a broader offering for US stock execution and access in Japan.
There has been growing interest in foreign equities among retail investors in Japan with holdings of US equities increasing from $596 billion in 2019 to $975 billion in 2024. In January 2025, Bank of America also noted that Japan's retail investment into US-focused Toshins (Japanese mutual funds of foreign equities) had surged by $9.8 billion USD (¥1.5 trillion), a 46% increase year over year. Together, these trends reflect the growing appeal of US equities among Japanese investors as they look to protect themselves against economic concerns including high interest rates and currency depreciation.
SBI Securities has also actively worked towards expanding investment access for Japanese retail investors and reducing barriers to US stock trading. The company has helped eliminate brokerage commissions on US stocks and ETFs under the new Nippon Individual Savings Account (NISA) system and waived real-time FX conversion fees for USD/JPY.
This announcement represents a strategic collaboration that advances Alpaca’s mission of opening financial services to everyone and SBI Securities’ mission of providing investors in Japan with a wider set of global investment opportunities. With client assets under custody exceeding $338 billion USD (¥50 trillion), SBI Securities ranks first among Japanese online brokerages in terms of assets under custody, number of accounts, and individual stock trading value.
“We are honored that SBI SECURITIES, Japan’s largest online brokerage, has chosen to adopt our execution services,” said Yoshi Yokokawa, CEO and Co-Founder of Alpaca. “This partnership is highly meaningful as it expands the options for US securities trading in Japan. We will continue to collaborate with leading financial institutions across the world in providing stable, scalable trading infrastructure for global markets.”
Alpaca currently powers hundreds of partners across 40 countries, collectively serving over 7 million brokerage accounts. The company holds broker-dealer licenses in the US, Japan, and other jurisdictions, and recently agreed to acquire WealthKernel, a UK- and EU-licensed fintech firm, further expanding its global service capabilities.
Norbert Gehrke
