Japan Builds Blockchain Payment Infrastructure for Instant Settlement

Japan is working on a blockchain-based payment infrastructure to enable instant settlement of stock and Japanese government bond transactions. The initiative involves the Financial Services Agency, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Japan, and financial institutions.

A joint study group will be formed this summer to examine how such a system could work in practice.

The group aims to produce a development plan by January 2027 at the earliest. The plan will cover technical design, responsibilities, and a broader road map for implementation.

Operations could start within a handful of years if the proposals are approved, with a full launch planned for the early 2030s. The system may also be expanded to cover cross-border remittances.