The Nomura Research Institute (NRI) announced the first blockchain-powered bond issue in Japan in March 2020. “ibet,” a brand-new open source blockchain financial services platform created by BOOSTRY, was used to make the offering.
NRI and Nomura Holdings have a joint venture called BOOSTRY. As part of ongoing attempts to integrate cutting-edge technologies into finance, the two organizations first cooperated on blockchain technology in 2015. In addition to building the infrastructure necessary to make securities trading easier, BOOSTRY wants to provide its clients a fresh, seamless investing experience and promote online capital markets fundraising through advisory services.
Two bonds were included in the offering: a digital bond and a digital asset bond. While Nomura Securities underwrote the digital bond, NRI offered the digital asset bond directly to investors. In addition to offering its ibet platform, BOOSTRY also functioned as the bond register agent and fiscal agent for both bonds, with Nomura Trust and Banking.
Connecting ibet to the fund settlement network and entitlement registry is a necessary step in the settlement procedure. There are user nodes run by investors and service providers, and approval nodes mostly run by financial institutions, issuers, and IT corporations.
(Source: Nomura)
Blockchain in Japan: Industry on the Rise
In fiscal year 2021, the market size for blockchain-utilized services in Japan was projected to be approximately 78.3 billion Japanese yen. Blockchain adoption in Japan was predicted to grow rapidly in the upcoming years, practically multiplying over the course of a few years, to reach a value of over 724.8 billion yen by the fiscal year 2025.
The size of the blockchain supply chain in Japan is expected to rise at a rate of 44.80% CAGR between 2024 and 2032. The market is mostly driven by the growing desire for transparency, continuous efficiency gains, encouraging government programs, and broad adoption by significant companies in the food and beverage, electronics, and automotive industries.
How Blockchain is Transforming Financial Services in Japan
Frequently praised as the foundation of virtual money, blockchain technology has gradually developed into a disruptive force within the financial services sector. Blockchain is a decentralized, transparent, and secure ledger system that has the potential to completely transform the financial industry. Blockchain software product engineering services bring about cost savings, increased security, and increased efficiency.
Here’s how Blockchain fintech app development services transforming financial services in Japan:
- Simplifying payment systems
Simplifying payment systems is one of blockchain technology’s most important uses. Blockchain-based payment systems can make cross-border transactions quicker, safer, and more economical by doing away with the need for middlemen. For example, financial institutions may process payments in real time with minimal fees thanks to Ripple, a global payment network powered by blockchain technology from a software product engineering company. This is an economical and effective substitute for conventional payment systems. Blockchain adoption will probably cause a significant change in the global payments environment by enabling more smooth cross-border transactions for both individuals and enterprises. - Improve trade finance
A vital aspect of global trade, trade finance sometimes suffers from lengthy paperwork, laborious procedures, and fraud vulnerability. By digitizing trade documentation, optimizing procedures, and offering a tamper-proof environment for safe transactions, blockchain technology can solve these issues. Blockchain is used, for instance, by platforms like Marco Polo to provide quicker, more transparent, and safe trade financing solutions. The use of blockchain technology in trade financing will probably encourage trading partners to work together more. - Expedites international transactions
Issues and investors are matched based on matching risk and return characteristics in the capital markets. Businesses face risks related to interest rate volatility, liquidity, and other financial matters, as well as lax oversight and regulatory procedures. By removing operational risks that lead to fraud and human error and lowering overall counterparty risks, blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the financial markets. Financial products by a software development company in Japan and assets are becoming more digitally and tokenized, which facilitates trade, encourages global inclusion, improves connection, and allows for fractionalized ownership—all of which lower capital costs and boost liquidity. - Create audit trails
Blockchain technology has the potential to enhance banking transaction security by removing financial fraud, redundant data, and preserving an unobscured audit trail. Blockchain networks are secured by thousands of ledgers; modifications to data require the consent of all network members. Because of this, it is far more difficult for hackers to access and damage important data, sparing victims from financial losses in the hundreds or thousands. In addition to blockchain services, organizations can further strengthen security by utilizing VPN services. - Transforming asset management
The use of blockchain fintech app development solutions has various advantages for the asset management industry. Trade clearing and settlement are only two examples of the asset management procedures that smart contracts, which are programmable agreements that automatically execute when predetermined conditions are satisfied, may automate. This lowers operating costs and risks. Tokenization, the process of transforming physical assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, can also expand access to investment possibilities, permit fractional ownership, and increase liquidity. As blockchain technology develops further, it has the potential to completely transform the asset management sector by promoting more efficiency, transparency, and investor involvement.
In Summary
Blockchain technology has potential for use in contemporary finance, however there are still obstacles to be solved as it is still in its infancy. Banks are having serious problems implementing it, and despite widespread enthusiasm, governments have not yet acknowledged or approved its use cases. Blockchain technology from the best software company in Japan is still being adopted, though, and in the future it can help trade finance, cross-border transactions, and capital markets.