Japan studies blockchain route to speed securities cash settlement

Japan’s Financial Services Agency, Ministry of Finance, Bank of Japan and financial institutions are preparing to examine whether blockchain infrastructure could support a faster process for settling securities transactions, Cointelegraph reported. The group plans to study the required infrastructure and compile a development plan by early 2027. The initiative places distributed-ledger technology within a broader examination of the systems used to complete securities cash settlement in Japan. Details of the proposed infrastructure, the securities involved and any implementation timeline beyond the planned development document have not been provided. The review is therefore at the study and planning stage, with the participating public authorities and market institutions expected to assess the framework before deciding on a development path.