Three of Japan’s biggest banks said they will jointly issue a stablecoin this fiscal year, which ends in March.
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC) and Mizuho Financial Group will establish a council to explore operational frameworks and prepare the issuance of stablecoins, according to a statement on MUFG’s website.
The three banks will act as “joint settlors and a trust bank or similar institution will act as administrator,” the statement said.
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) signaled support for the development of a stablecoin by the three banks last November. Recently, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) said the state should promote the use of yen-based stablecoins.
Stablecoins are digital tokens that are tied to the value of a traditional financial asset, usually a fiat currency. The market is overwhelmingly dominated by US dollar tokens, with Tether’s USDT and Circle Internet’s (CRCL) USDC alone accounting for a combined market share of 84%.
Tokens pegged to the yen represent an insignificant share of the market, accounting for less than $50 million in the $311 billion sector. The most prominent is JPYC, with a market cap of around $18 million, issued by a Tokyo-based fintech of the same name.
