Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Plans to Test Blockchain Real-Time Settlement of Japanese Government Bond Transactions

According to CoinDesk, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) announced plans to utilize the Canton network to conduct a proof of concept for on-chain trading of Japanese Government Bonds (JGB) to achieve real-time 24/7 settlement, replacing the traditional settlement process requiring 1 to 3 days. MUFG stated that this move aims to enhance the operational and capital efficiency of repo transactions, noting that European and American financial institutions have already expanded proof of concept projects in this field, with JPMorgan Chase's Kinexys network having supported blockchain-based intraday US Treasury repo operations since 2020. MUFG pointed out that Japanese Government Bonds are widely used as collateral for repo transactions by domestic and international market participants due to their high credit ratings and liquidity, and the trend towards on-chain adoption is accelerating. Additionally, MUFG has previously partnered with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC) and Mizuho Financial Group to explore the joint issuance of stablecoins by March 2027; this JGB on-chain settlement test is a significant component of its blockchain strategic layout.