Japan’s Megabanks Unite to Launch Yen- and Dollar-Pegged Stablecoins

In Brief

• MUFG, SMFG, and Mizuho to jointly issue yen- and dollar-pegged stablecoins.
• Mitsubishi Corp will pilot the stablecoin for settlement across trading operations.
• Stablecoins aim to enable 24/7 transfers with lower fees and faster processing.

Japan’s leading financial groups Mitsubishi UFJ, Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho are collaborating to issue stablecoins backed by fiat currencies. The initiative marks a major shift in Japan’s digital finance landscape, bridging traditional banking with blockchain-based settlement systems.

The banks plan to begin with a yen-pegged stablecoin before introducing a dollar-pegged version under uniform industry standards. This structure will allow corporate clients to transfer and settle transactions seamlessly across networks.

Mitsubishi Corporation will be the first to use the new coins for digital settlement operations within its trading ecosystem. The collaboration is expected to benefit over 300,000 corporate partners connected to the three megabanks.

The project builds on earlier efforts such as Project Pax, designed to simplify cross-border corporate payments using blockchain technology. Early pilot testing has already started to integrate stablecoin settlements with existing banking APIs and financial infrastructure.

Regulated Innovation Boosts Market Confidence

The banks expect stablecoins to enable 24-hour settlements, lower transaction fees, and faster processing times than traditional payment systems. The move aligns with Japan’s push to modernise financial operations under clear regulatory oversight.

Industry analysts note that compliance with anti-money laundering and consumer protection laws remains a key priority. However, this initiative signals Japan’s intention to lead in the regulated digital asset sector by linking fiat and blockchain economies.

MUFG’s trust arm is also exploring permissionless stablecoins for trade settlements in emerging markets. Global institutions are watching Japan’s progress as part of a wider trend toward G7 currency-backed digital tokens.

Mitsubishi Corporation’s stock reflected mild optimism following the announcement, closing at ¥3,569, up ¥8 or 0.22% on October 17. The trading range stayed narrow between ¥3,540 and ¥3,582, showing stable investor sentiment and limited volatility.

Japan’s Megabanks Unite to Launch Yen- and Dollar-Pegged Stablecoins 2Source: Google

The company’s market capitalization stood at ¥14.38 trillion, with a P/E ratio of 17.79 and a dividend yield of 2.8%. Its shares traded near a 52-week high of ¥3,637, reflecting steady consolidation and continued market confidence.