Japan Plans Blockchain System for Instant Stock, Bond Settlement

Japan's top financial regulators and central bank are launching a joint initiative to study the creation of a blockchain-based payment infrastructure for settling stock and government bond transactions in real time. The Financial Services Agency, the Ministry of Finance, and the Bank of Japan will form a study group this summer with financial institutions to develop a plan for the next-generation system, according to a report from Nikkei published on August 26, 2026. The project aims to fundamentally change the settlement process for Japan's securities markets.