BOJ to test blockchain settlement for current accounts

Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Kazuo Ueda announced on March 3 that the central bank will conduct technical verification for a plan to digitize a portion of its current accounts on a blockchain to enable real-world settlements. According to Newspim, Ueda made the remarks at FIN/SUM 2026, a major fintech event co-hosted by Nikkei and Japan's Financial Services Agency. The media outlet noted that the move is being interpreted as a signal that the BOJ is advancing beyond simply studying the issuance of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and is now beginning to earnestly experiment with linking central bank funds directly to blockchain-based infrastructure.