#TokenizedMMF
3 articles tagged #TokenizedMMF — curated RWA tokenization coverage.
Securitize's Kobayashi Warns Japan Risks 'Losing' Without a ¥300 Trillion RWA Market【WebX 2026】
At the WebX 2026 conference, industry leaders from Securitize Japan, BlackRock, and Franklin Templeton discussed the urgent need for Japan to scale its RWA market to ¥300 trillion by 2033 to maintain global competitiveness. Eiichi Kobayashi of Securitize Japan warned that Japan's current public blockchain market is effectively zero, risking a significant loss of international standing as the global RWA sector approaches a projected ¥3,000 trillion. The panel highlighted the evolution of tokenized money market funds (MMFs), such as BlackRock's BUIDL and Franklin Templeton's BENJI, which offer 24/7/365 transferability and DeFi integration. Mitsunori Yuasa of Franklin Templeton demonstrated the practical utility of these assets by citing their recent use in a corporate M&A settlement. Despite these global advancements, panelists noted that domestic demand in Japan remains limited, with major securities firms struggling to identify corporate use cases. The discussion emphasized that transitioning from regulatory frameworks to active, real-world use cases is the critical challenge for Japan. Ultimately, the ability of Japanese institutions to adopt these blockchain-based financial products will determine the nation's trajectory in the rapidly expanding global RWA landscape.
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.
BlackRock, Citi, 46 firms in tokenized MMF collateral trials with GDF and ISDA
Global Digital Finance and ISDA have released a comprehensive report confirming that tokenized money market funds can function as institutional collateral within the United States. The study involved over 120 firms, including industry giants like BlackRock, Citi, JP Morgan, and Franklin Templeton, alongside clearing houses CME and ICE. Through sandbox simulations conducted by Ownera with 48 participating firms, the group analyzed three distinct tokenization models against ten legal and regulatory dimensions. While the findings suggest these models align with existing frameworks, the report notes that money market funds remain ineligible as variation margin for cleared derivatives. Furthermore, the lack of specific SEC guidance on uncleared initial margin necessitates treating tokenized assets as conventional securities for now. This initiative builds upon recent regulatory clarifications from the CFTC and SEC regarding blockchain-based shareholder records and securities law application. By establishing a clear taxonomy for ownership records, this work provides a critical roadmap for the institutional adoption of tokenized assets in financial markets.