Japanese Banking Giants Enter Stablecoins, Challenge USDT and USDC Dominance

Core Insights - Japan's three largest banks, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho, are collaborating to launch stablecoins pegged to the Japanese yen and US dollar to compete with USDT and USDC [1][2] - The yen-backed stablecoin will initially be utilized for settlements by Mitsubishi Corporation, with plans for broader adoption across Japan [1][2] - The initiative is supported by Progmat, a blockchain infrastructure company established by MUFG, which will oversee the issuance and governance of the stablecoin [3][4] Group 1 - The three megabanks serve over 300,000 major business partners and aim to create a structure for corporate clients to transfer stablecoins under uniform standards [2] - The banks have partnered with various players in the crypto sector, including Bitbank, Avalabs, and Fireblocks, to enhance the stablecoin's infrastructure [4] - The stablecoin, named JPYC, will maintain its peg to the yen through reserves of highly liquid assets, with plans to issue 1 trillion yen (approximately $6.64 billion) over the next three years [5] Group 2 - The global interest in stablecoins is rising, with the total market capitalization recently surpassing $307 billion, where USDC and USDT dominate the market [6] - Currently, only Circle's USDC has received approval as a global dollar stablecoin for use in Japan, highlighting the competitive landscape [6]