Minna Bank in Japan Partners with Solana and Fireblocks for Stablecoin Use Case Study

Minna Bank, a progressive digital bank in Japan, is exploring stablecoin applications for payments and other financial services, reflecting rising institutional interest in the Solana blockchain.

Over the past 24 hours, Solana’s (SOL) price dipped 3.36%, dropping from $155.69 to roughly $150.81, according to CoinDesk Research’s technical data. Despite this decline amidst broader market pressures, institutional momentum in Asia continues to build, driven by key partnerships and initiatives.

Minna Bank, a digital-first subsidiary of Fukuoka Financial Group, has teamed up with Fireblocks, Solana, and TIS to research how stablecoins and Web3 wallets could enhance consumer finance in Japan. Their collaboration focuses on practical use cases such as payments, on-chain banking infrastructure, and delivering user-friendly experiences for Japan’s mobile-savvy population.

The timing of this partnership coincides with stablecoins surpassing a $250 billion market capitalization, attracting banks keen on modernizing cross-border transactions, deposits, and settlements. Michael Shaulov, CEO of Fireblocks, emphasized the project’s potential to improve value transfer efficiency in the digital economy.

Minna Bank primarily serves customers aged 15 to 39, a demographic often underserved by traditional banks, making it an ideal testbed for stablecoin-driven financial solutions. Their banking model integrates financial services seamlessly with everyday spending, aligning with their broader Banking-as-a-Service strategy.

While Solana’s price remains below recent highs, these developments highlight its strength as a platform for fintech innovation. Recent institutional moves, including the launch of the REX-Osprey Solana + Staking ETF and increased SOL holdings by DeFi Development Corp., signal sustained confidence despite short-term price fluctuations.

Technical Highlights:

SOL declined 3.36%, falling from $155.69 to $150.46 between July 3, 10:00 and July 4, 09:00.
Intraday price swung between $155.79 and $149.13, reflecting 4.28% volatility.
Resistance appeared near $153.77 during the 05:00 hour on July 4 with elevated volume.
Support held steady at $149.13 around 08:00, buoyed by strong buying interest.
SOL recovered slightly in the final hour, rising 0.40% from $149.97 to $150.57.
A short-term uptrend emerged after breaking resistance at $150.20 at 09:03.
Volume spikes at 08:50 (24,245 units) and 09:15 (22,894 units) confirmed upward momentum.
SOL stabilized above $150.63, facing minimal resistance ahead.