Nomura Research Institute (NRI), a leading provider of consulting services and system solutions, today announced that it will examine the feasibility of implementing blockchain*¹, the distributed ledger technology supporting cryptocurrency exchange, and other new technologies in the securities industry this month, in efforts to begin facilitating open innovation. 

The study will be conducted in collaboration with Nomura Securities Co., Ltd., as well as other technology startup firms. The results will be used to examine opportunities for practical application after the study is completed in January 2016.

The impetus behind creating this study emerged from NRI’s continuous commitment to promote open innovation, based on the understanding that the financial and technology sectors are becoming increasingly linked. The unique value created by the merger of existing business with advanced technologies and services provided by new ventures, such as blockchain, is a large area of interest for the financial services industry in Japan and worldwide.

*1 blockchain: underlying distributed ledger technology that supports the exchange of  crypto currency and cryptographically secured financial assets.