Japan's First DeFi Gateway Takes Shape
SMBC Nikko Securities and Nethermind have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uniswap Labs, Base, and Nyx Foundation to build a Japan-focused DeFi Gateway. The project aims to provide a controlled route into decentralized finance for Japanese investors.
The DeFi Gateway is expected to be completed by mid-2027. SMBC Nikko will lead regulatory discussions, while Nethermind will be responsible for technical design and delivery across engineering, AI integration, and smart-contract security.
Uniswap Labs will provide expertise in protocol integration and liquidity-deployment strategies, while Nyx Foundation will advise on market-making strategies and hook structures. Base will support deployment in its Ethereum layer-2 ecosystem and provide technical feedback around x402, an open payment protocol developed by Coinbase.
The project will use Uniswap v4 hooks to add anti-money laundering, counterterrorism financing, and investor protection mechanisms around pool activity. The partners will develop an open framework for liquidity pools, including token and protocol due diligence, and asset-deployment strategies covering digital assets such as stablecoins and real-world assets.