Hitachi to launch digital asset AML monitoring service in October 2026 after Japan-backed pilot

Hitachi said on July 30 it will launch an anti-money laundering monitoring service for digital asset transactions in October 2026, expanding on a proof-of-concept project backed by Japan’s Financial Services Agency. The pilot, conducted from March to May 2026 with 17 financial institutions and crypto asset-related businesses under the FSA’s FinTech Proof-of-Concept Hub, confirmed the practical feasibility of sharing risk information across companies and combining pre- and post-transaction checks with token circulation monitoring. The service will cover crypto assets, stablecoins and NFTs through three functions: post-transaction monitoring of registered wallets, online real-time evaluation of destination wallet risk before transfers, and token monitoring that tracks the holding and transfer status of issued tokens such as stablecoins. Hitachi said each operator will make the final decision on whether to approve a transaction, while the company provides information to support that judgment. The proof of concept also tested a mechanism for sharing suspicious transaction intelligence and high-risk wallet information without exchanging customers’ personal attribute data, relying instead on risk signals such as wallet addresses and transaction information. Hitachi said a multi-layered approach combining known risk lists, external blockchain analysis, and AI and machine learning-based similarity analysis showed the potential to detect risks that existing lists alone may miss. The company said it plans to help develop an industry-wide “AML Joint Center” for financial institutions, crypto asset businesses and stablecoin-related firms to share risk information and address early detection, operating burdens and shortages of specialist staff as digital asset use expands in Japan.