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Market Chatter: Japan Eyes 24-Hour Blockchain Trading for Government Bonds

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-- Japan is preparing to introduce round-the-clock trading of government bonds on blockchain networks as early as 2026, Nikkei Asia reported Friday.

The move comes as Japan aims to reduce transaction costs and accelerate settlement times, the report said.

Under the plan, Japanese government bonds will be tokenized, allowing them to be issued and traded digitally on blockchain platforms, according to the report.

Authorities initially plan to focus on the repo market, where financial institutions borrow and lend funds using government bonds as collateral, the report said.

A consortium set to launch in May will develop the trading infrastructure, with digital asset platform operator Progmat serving as secretariat, according to the report.

Japan's three largest banking groups, along with Tokio Marine Holdings (TYO:8766), Daiwa Securities Group (TYO:8601) and SBI Securities, are expected to participate. The report said BlackRock Japan and State Street Trust & Banking will also join the initiative.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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