SMBC Nikko and Nethermind Develop Japan DeFi Gateway with Uniswap Support

Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) has announced that its subsidiary, SMBC Nikko, is collaborating with Nethermind to develop a Japan-focused DeFi Gateway. The project, which is set to launch in mid-2027, aims to provide Japanese investors with an on-chain trading venue on Uniswap v4. Uniswap Labs, Base, and Nyx Foundation are providing support for the initiative.

The DeFi Gateway will feature custom liquidity pools designed to support stablecoins, real-world assets, and other digital assets. The infrastructure will also include AI-powered vaults and investor-onboarding interfaces. The pool framework is intended to be open to other teams, fostering broader collaboration within the DeFi space.

According to Uniswap Labs, the project is part of a broader effort to expand access to decentralized finance in Japan. The completion of the DeFi Gateway is targeted for mid-2027, with SMBC Nikko and Nethermind leading the development efforts.