Japan's SMBC Nikko Joins Forces with Uniswap to Launch DeFi Gateway

A consortium of Japanese financial institutions, led by SMBC Nikko Securities, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Uniswap Labs, Base, and Nyx Foundation to develop a Japan-focused DeFi Gateway. The project aims to provide a controlled route for Japanese investors into decentralized finance, with a completion target set for mid-2027.

The DeFi Gateway will feature an open framework for liquidity pools using Uniswap v4 hooks, which will add anti-money laundering, counterterrorism financing, and investor protection mechanisms. The project will also include the development of automated market-making and v4 hook strategies for Japan, including token and protocol due diligence.

The consortium will be responsible for refining and validating the project's technical framework, which will cover digital assets such as stablecoins and real-world assets. SMBC Nikko will lead regulatory discussions, while Nethermind will provide technical design and delivery expertise. Uniswap Labs will contribute to protocol integration and liquidity-deployment strategies, and Nyx Foundation will advise on market-making strategies and hook structures.