OwlTing's Major Investors Extend Lock-Up in Strategic Stability Play

ARLINGTON, Va. – April 20, 2026 – Global fintech company OwlTing Group (NASDAQ: OWLS) has secured a significant vote of confidence from its core backers, announcing today that major institutional investor SBI Holdings and its legacy shareholders have agreed to a 12-month extension of their share lock-up arrangements. The agreement, covering more than 99% of the shares subject to the extension, is a strategic maneuver designed to insulate the company from near-term market volatility and underscore a deep-seated belief in its long-term vision.

The move provides the market with enhanced clarity on the company's public float for the coming year. By preventing a large volume of pre-IPO shares from potentially entering the market, OwlTing aims to mitigate the risk of a "liquidity event" that could disrupt its stock price. This stability is crucial as the company focuses on executing its ambitious global expansion and product development roadmap.

A Signal of Confidence Amid Market Headwinds

For publicly traded companies, the expiration of a lock-up period often creates an "overhang" of shares, leading to increased selling pressure and stock price declines. OwlTing's decision to proactively extend this period, with overwhelming support from its earliest and largest investors, sends a powerful counter-signal to the market. This is particularly salient given the stock's recent performance, which has seen it trade near its 52-week low after a significant decline over the past year.

The extension effectively removes the uncertainty associated with a potential near-term sell-off, allowing investors to focus on the company's fundamental progress rather than short-term trading dynamics. It reflects a unified belief among insiders and key financiers that the company's current valuation does not reflect its future potential.

“We are grateful for the sustained support from SBI, Mr. Yoshitaka Kitao, and our long-term shareholders,” said Darren Wang, Founder and CEO at OwlTing Group, in the company's official statement. “This alignment reflects a shared long-term view of the Company, and allows OwlTing to stay focused on advancing its global payment infrastructure and executing its compliance-first growth strategy.”

The Power of a Strategic Alliance

The backing of SBI Holdings, a Japanese financial services giant, is a critical component of this announcement. SBI is not merely a passive investor; it is a highly active and influential player in the global fintech and blockchain arena. Known for its aggressive strategy in building a comprehensive digital financial ecosystem, SBI has a portfolio of strategic investments and partnerships with leading firms like Ripple and Chainlink.

SBI's history with OwlTing dates back to 2018 when it led the company's Series A funding round. Its continued and vocal support, culminating in this lock-up extension, serves as a powerful endorsement of OwlTing's technology, leadership, and strategic direction. This alliance provides OwlTing with more than just capital; it offers strategic validation and a potential gateway to deeper integration within the burgeoning digital asset economy in Asia and beyond.

Fueling a Compliance-First Global Expansion

With its shareholder base firmly aligned for the long term, OwlTing can now dedicate its full attention to its core mission: building a globally compliant payment network. The company has championed a "compliance-first" strategy, a crucial differentiator in the complex and heavily regulated world of cross-border finance and digital currencies.

This approach is evidenced by its impressive and growing regulatory footprint. In the United States, its subsidiary OwlTing USA holds Money Transmitter Licenses (MTLs) or their equivalent in 41 states. This extensive coverage is the bedrock for its flagship product, OwlPay, a hybrid payment solution designed for both traditional (Web2) and decentralized (Web3) economies. Beyond the U.S., OwlTing operates under a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license in the European Union and an Electronic Payment Intermediary Service Provider license in Japan, positioning it to serve key international markets.

The stability afforded by the lock-up extension directly supports the continued execution of this global regulatory roadmap. Building compliant infrastructure is a capital- and time-intensive process, and the assurance of a stable shareholder base allows the company to make the necessary long-range investments without being swayed by short-term market pressures.

Aligning Insiders for the Long Haul

The "legacy shareholders" mentioned in the announcement encompass the company's founders, including CEO Darren Wang and CTO John Hsieh, alongside other early-stage investors and key employees who have been with the company since its formative years. Their collective decision to keep their holdings locked up for another year demonstrates a profound commitment to the company's future.

This confidence is bolstered by external recognition of OwlTing's growth trajectory. In 2026, the company was named to the Financial Times and Statista "High-Growth Companies Asia-Pacific" list. A year prior, CB Insights ranked it among the top global players for enterprise and B2B solutions in the digital currency sector. For the insiders who built the company from the ground up, these accolades validate their long-held vision. By forgoing immediate liquidity, they are signaling their belief that the company's most significant growth lies ahead, driven by the continued adoption of its distributed ledger technology and the expansion of its OwlPay platform. This unified front of founders, employees, and institutional backers creates a solid foundation as OwlTing navigates the next phase of its journey in the evolving digital economy.