Japan’s Top Banks Team Up to Test Stablecoin Backed by National Regulator
The Financial Services Agency (FSA) has approved a pilot program that brings together the country’s three biggest banks, Mizuho Bank, MUFG, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), to test a jointly issued stablecoin. Digital assets meet tradfi in London at the fmls25Backed by Japan’s Payment RegulatorThe FSA confirmed on Friday that it will supervise the stablecoin trial as part of its newly launched Payment Innovation Project (PIP). The program aims to explore how multiple banking groups can issue and manage stablecoins classified as electronic payment instruments under Japanese law. The consortium behind the pilot includes Mitsubishi Corporation, Progmat Inc., and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation. Together, they will issue yen-based digital tokens and test their use across corporate and consumer payment systems. The project builds on MUFG’s existing Progmat platform, a blockchain network already used for tokenized securities and asset-backed products. By involving multiple institutions, the initiative seeks to determine whether Japan’s traditional banks can jointly operate a unified digital payment infrastructure-an approach that could significantly cut transaction times and costs. The stablecoin pilot aligns with broader efforts by Japan’s largest banks to reform the nation’s corporate settlement framework. Mizuho, MUFG, and SMBC collectively serve over 300, 000 business clients that still rely heavily on legacy clearing systems. Overhauling Corporate SettlementsThe trial will test whether stablecoins can streamline interbank transfers and cross-company payments without compromising security or regulatory compliance. The trial marks the first initiative under the FSA’s Payment Innovation Project, a dedicated effort operating within its long-running FinTech Proof-of-Concept Hub. Established in 2017, the hub has served as Japan’s primary testing ground for new financial technologies. Japan’s regulatory backing for this initiative reflects growing momentum in Asia’s race to modernize payment systems. As stablecoins gain traction in the U. S. and Europe, Japan’s decision to engage its largest banks in real-world testing underscores its intent to remain competitive in the digital finance landscape. With the FSA at the helm, the stablecoin pilot may become a key step toward a more efficient, transparent, and innovation-driven financial infrastructure-one where blockchain and traditional banking finally converge. This article was written by Jared Kirui at www. financemagnates. com.
