The Japan Financial Services Agency announced it will support planned demonstration experiments by major securities firms and megabanks to upgrade securities settlement using blockchain, using its Payment Advancement Project (PIP). The proposed model would record and manage the transfer of rights for government bonds, corporate bonds, investment trusts and stocks on a blockchain, and use stablecoins to link securities rights transfers with payment of trade consideration. The agency said it will support implementation of the experiments through guidance on the interpretation of laws and regulations, and noted it is also supporting a similar initiative being pursued by SBI.