Japan's Largest Trust Bank Puts BUIDL-Style Fund on Ethereum

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank (SMTB) has announced a proof of concept to tokenize beneficiary interests of a Cayman Islands-based fund on the Ethereum blockchain. This initiative marks the first time a Japanese trust bank has tokenized an overseas fund interest on a public chain, signaling a strategic shift away from the private network-based real estate products that have historically dominated Japan's security token market. The fund, which holds short-term US-dollar bonds and cash equivalents, aims to replicate the success of established tokenized money market funds like BlackRock's BUIDL and Franklin Templeton's BENJI. By utilizing an offshore vehicle, SMTB intends to bypass current domestic regulatory bottlenecks that prevent onchain settlement for continuously traded funds. The project involves collaboration with Securitize Japan and Fireblocks, with a target issuance window between fiscal 2026 and early 2027. This move is significant as it demonstrates how major financial institutions are leveraging international jurisdictions to accelerate RWA adoption while awaiting domestic legislative updates. Ultimately, SMTB views this offshore experiment as a necessary precursor to its long-term goal of tokenizing yen-denominated Japanese trusts once local regulations evolve.