Hitachi's AML Collaboration Initiative Wins Grand Prix at the 3rd Japan New Business Awards

Hitachi, Ltd.'s 'Digital Asset Transaction AML Collaboration Initiative' (hereinafter, 'the Initiative') has been awarded the Seed Division Grand Prix at the '3rd Japan New Business Awards*1' in April*2*3.

The Initiative aims to enhance efficiency in anti-money laundering (hereinafter, 'AML') across financial institutions by promoting cross-industry collaboration, and was selected from numerous entries.

*1 An award program recognizing internal corporate ventures and intrapreneurs

*2 The early phase before commercialization

*3 In addition to the Seed Division Grand Prix, also received the Partner Award from TECHFUND

Figure 1 | Ceremony for the Seed Division Grand Prix

About the Initiative

With the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, AML has become a global challenge. However, AML measures remain fragmented across financial institutions and businesses, calling for improved efficiency and effectiveness.

Against this backdrop, the Initiative aims to streamline fragmented AML efforts across institutions through cross-industry collaboration. Based on the concept of shifting AML 'from a competitive domain to a collaborative one,' it seeks to build a system capable of responding to the borderless nature of financial crime. Born from Hitachi’s internal business creation program, driven by employees’ awareness and initiative, the Initiative has begun pilot experiments in 2025 in collaboration with multiple partners*4.

*4 Hitachi and 12 digital asset-related companies have partnered to launch pilot experiments aimed at improving AML effectiveness and enabling collaboration

Hitachi’s Key Appeal Points for the Award

(1) Employee-Driven Initiative with Commercialization Potential

The Initiative originated from employees participating in Hitachi’s business creation program. During the final presentation, Hitachi highlighted how employee-led awareness of social issues—specifically financial crime prevention—led to concrete efforts toward commercialization.

Additionally, Hitachi emphasized its strong expertise, customer base, neutrality, credibility, and implementation capabilities in the financial sector, positioning itself as uniquely equipped to realize the Initiative.

(2) Proven Execution Through Pilots

Hitachi demonstrated that the Initiative has progressed beyond a mere concept, using pilot experiments to clarify technical, regulatory, and operational challenges. It also presented the Initiative as scalable, with potential for domestic commercialization, future growth, and international expansion.

Final Selection and Significance of the Award

The final selection was held on April 15 at Makuhari Messe, where presentations were delivered before over 500 attendees and judges.

Isao Kishi, Chief Business Producer at Hitachi’s Digital Services Business Unit, Financial Systems Division 2, advocated for AML to be treated not as a competitive domain, but as a collaborative industry-wide effort, emphasizing the need for a 'secure social infrastructure' that enables safe transactions for all.

This award signifies that an employee-driven initiative has matured into a tangible project addressing societal challenges. Building on this momentum, Hitachi will continue accelerating the creation of new social value, rooted in individual employee initiatives.

Figure 2 | Isao Kishi delivering the final presentation

Comment from the Recipient

This Initiative represents a shift from isolated, company-by-company approaches to a collective, industry-wide response to financial crime. Financial crime is already borderless—so our defenses must not remain fragmented. We believe financial institutions, crypto asset operators, government agencies, and technology partners must collaborate.

That an initiative born from our internal program has been recognized by external judges is deeply encouraging. But this is not the finish line—it’s a milestone toward real-world implementation. Going forward, we will continue collaborating with stakeholders to fully realize this new social infrastructure that supports trust in finance.

Figure 3 | Colleagues united in tackling societal challenges

Contact Information

Hitachi, Ltd. Financial Systems Sales Headquarters

Inquiry Form: https://www.hitachi.co.jp/finance-inq/

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