MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho will form a council to develop operational frameworks for a yen-pegged stablecoin issuance.
Japan’s three largest banks—Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC), and Mizuho Financial Group—will jointly issue a yen-backed stablecoin by March 2027. The banks will establish a council to explore operational frameworks, with a trust bank or similar institution acting as trustee, according to a statement from MUFG.
The initiative follows regulatory support from Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which has advocated for yen-based stablecoins. Currently, U.S. dollar-pegged tokens like Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC dominate the market, holding an 84% share, while yen-pegged tokens remain negligible.
The move aims to bolster Japan’s digital asset infrastructure and reduce reliance on dollar-denominated stablecoins. No immediate market reaction was reported.