Notice of New Board Member Appointments

Digital Securities Co., Ltd. ("DS") announces the new appointments of Hiroki Akiyama as Director and Head of Business Division effective March 23, 2026, and Ryo Kato as Outside Director effective May 20, 2026.

Mr. Akiyama joined DS in August 2022, shortly after its founding. As Head of Investment, he built the company's core private real estate fund business from the ground up, laying the foundation for the firm. His contributions have been recognized, and he has been appointed as Director and Head of Business Division to lead further growth. Following his appointment, former Director COO Osamu Kitada stepped down from his COO role on March 23, 2026, and has been newly appointed as an Outside Director.

Mr. Kato was responsible for M&A execution and PMI within the SBI Group while in the Corporate Planning Department of SBI Securities Co., Ltd. He led 10 M&A transactions in the Web3 and financial sectors over three years. He has now been appointed as an Outside Director as a nominee of SBI Holdings, Inc. based on the capital and business alliance agreement between DS and SBI Holdings.

[Comment from Mr. Akiyama] "My primary objective in joining DS was to drive the shift from 'savings to investment' for individual money using the power of a startup. I intend to tirelessly maintain a focus on investor interests, ensuring DS fulfills its role as a 'gatekeeper for the public' to provide high-quality investment products that were previously available only to a select few."

[Comment from Mr. Kato] "I am deeply honored to be appointed as an Outside Director of DS, a company I have been involved with since its inception. While DS has grown steadily, our challenge to transform asset management in Japan has only just begun. Together with our shareholders and employees, including collaboration with the SBI Group, I will dedicate myself to providing value to our customers and enhancing DS's corporate value."

Under the vision of 'Making asset management standard through a digital securities marketplace,' DS collaborates with shareholders to create Japan's first and only digital securities marketplace, covering the entire spectrum from fund creation to sales, aiming to become the No. 1 platformer in the domestic digital securities industry.