Japanese IT giant Fujitsu and three major banks have announced plans to pilot a peer-to-peer money transfer system built with blockchain technology.

In partnership with Mizuho Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Fujitsu will field trial a cloud-based blockchain platform for sending funds between individuals, as well as a smartphone app to increase the usability of the system.

In theory, the platform would link customers’ fiat accounts at the three banks to the blockchain system. They would then be able to use the app to send money, as well as making deposits and withdrawals. On top of value transfer, the blockchain trial will also test clearing and settlement functionality.

Fujitsu explained in a press release that the pilot scheme will allow it to:

“Evaluate the system’s application of the series of processes involved in monetary transfers between individuals, including transferring funds from the money transfer account for individuals and the actual bank account linked with it.”

Fujitsu has already been working on developing the platform, and construction is set to continue for the next three months, the release indicates. The completed system is expected to be trialed between January and March 2018.

Last month, Fujitsu announced a partnership with the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA) for testing financial services on a blockchain.

Fujitsu image via Shutterstock