Notice of Signing of Basic Agreement on Business Partnership with Startale Group Pte. Ltd.

We are pleased to announce that we have signed a basic agreement on business collaboration (hereinafter referred to as "this MoU") with Startale Group Pte. Ltd. (Singapore, CEO: Sota Watanabe, hereinafter referred to as "Startale") in the blockchain-related business.

1. Background of the Signing of the Basic Agreement

As an "Ethereum company," we aim to expand the future of financial infrastructure, focusing on medium- to long-term holding and development of Ethereum. Meanwhile, Startale is a Web3 technology company established in 2023 by Sota Watanabe, with investments from the SBI Group and Sony Group.

Both representatives, Hiroki Tahara and Sota Watanabe, are entrepreneurs of the same generation who have been developing businesses in the Web3 space since 2019, and have recognized each other's business content and strategic direction through industry exchanges. As we begin to fully develop our BUIDL business for practical use of Ethereum, Startale is promoting social implementation of blockchain-related technologies, leading to the conclusion of this MoU.

Both companies will discuss technology verification, business development collaboration, and other individual measures agreed upon by both parties in the blockchain-related business, and will explore use case creation and business opportunities in the Web3 space by leveraging each other's knowledge and networks.

Through this MoU, we aim to create new business opportunities in our BUIDL business through discussions with Startale.

2. Contents of the Basic Agreement

Both companies will discuss and consider the following matters:

(1) Development support for blockchain-related products handled by both companies, introduction of IP projects, and other collaborations - Product development on blockchain networks, technology verification, IP utilization, introduction support, partner development for ecosystem expansion, and use case creation

(2) Development of related businesses including Japanese yen stablecoins, customer acquisition, use case creation, and business partnerships - Creation of use cases such as payments, RWA (real world assets), Web3 infrastructure for enterprises, and other applications utilizing blockchain technology, as well as research, design, and demonstration of related products

(3) Other individual projects agreed upon by both companies - Joint study of business areas and revenue models, case formation with partner companies, regular information exchange, and other collaborative matters agreed upon by both companies

3. About Startale Group Pte. Ltd.

Startale Group is a Japanese-origin global fintech company with the mission "Create the next civilization by onchaining the world." In collaboration with SBI Holdings, it is developing "Strium," a platform for continuous trading of tokenized assets, and working to build on-chain financial infrastructure through JPYSC and USDSC. It is also jointly developing the blockchain "Soneium" with the Sony Group. Furthermore, based on these initiatives, it is deploying the super app "Startale App" that seamlessly connects asset management, community, and on-chain applications.

4. Profile of Sota Watanabe (CEO of Startale)

Born in 1995 in Kanagawa Prefecture. While studying at Keio University, he worked at a blockchain startup in Silicon Valley. After returning to Japan, he founded Stake Technologies, the predecessor of Astar Network, in 2019. He established Startale in 2023 and became CEO. He leads the global expansion of Japan-origin Web3 and on-chain financial infrastructure through joint development of "Soneium" with Sony Block Solutions Labs (a joint venture with Sony Group), development of "Strium" with SBI Group, and technical development of the trust-type Japanese yen stablecoin "JPYSC." He is currently based in New York.

5. Profile of Hiroki Tahara (CEO of HODL1 Co., Ltd.)

Born in Tokyo. After entering the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Liberal Arts (Class 1), he majored in big data analysis in the Faculty of Engineering. While in school, he obtained a Small and Medium Enterprise Management Consultant qualification. In 2019, while enrolled in the Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Information Studies at the University of Tokyo, he co-founded Turingum Co., Ltd., which handles R&D and commercialization of blockchain technology. As a blockchain engineer and researcher, he oversaw the technical division, engaging in privacy technology, Layer2, and DeFi smart contract development. Later, Turingum was acquired by HODL1 (formerly Kushim) and became a consolidated subsidiary. Tahara raised issues with improper governance by former management and led a shareholder proposal; in April 2025, he was appointed CEO after a provisional director appointment decision by the Tokyo District Court. He became the youngest CEO (28 years old) of a company listed on the TSE Standard and Prime markets.

He places the fusion of Web3 and capital markets at the core of management, and is promoting a unique business model centered on strategic holding and practical use of Ethereum.

6. Company Overview of Startale Group Pte. Ltd.

- Company name: Startale Group Pte. Ltd. - Location: 105 CECIL STREET #24-02 THE OCTAGON SINGAPORE - Representative: CEO Sota Watanabe - Established: January 2023 - Business: Social implementation of on-chain finance and entertainment through construction of blockchain, stablecoins, and on-chain applications; joint development of Soneium, promotion of Strium and JPYSC, deployment of Super App "Startale App" - URL: https://startale.com/