About us

Together with Hokkoku Bank, we developed Japan's first deposit-type stable coin, Tochika, and released it in March 2024. I would like to talk about the background of this project and the future we are aiming for.

"Tochika" is Japan's first "deposit-type stable coin" issued by Hokkoku Bank, and is a new payment method that can be used anytime and anywhere through the smartphone app "Tochika". With this app, you can also use "Tochipo" points issued by local governments, and you can make payments at member stores in Ishikawa Prefecture. What is unique about this project is that it integrates the financial institution's "currency" on the blockchain and the "identified ID" provided by the My Number card, creating a structure that allows seamless use of private services and local government services. A new mechanism has been created that allows users to build their own economic zone.

The development was based on the needs of Hokkoku Bank, which was promoting a cashless system as a countermeasure to the high cost of cash and the risk of fraud. We overcame the cultural differences between our two companies and utilized blockchain technology to realize this project.
In the future, we aim to expand TOCHICA to other local banks and build a broader economic zone, and we are also working on new projects that utilize blockchain technology.

DP's appeal is that it implements technology in society and evolves it while obtaining user feedback. Personally, I place importance on creating an environment where engineers can understand business and create products that contribute to society. The future we aim to realize is a future centered on the "individual" and in which value can be exchanged between individuals.
Working at a startup gives you the joy of seeing what you create contribute to society. We respect diversity and provide an environment where engineers can grow while understanding business. We sincerely welcome those who are willing to take on challenges and those who want to enrich their careers as engineers.

Graduated from the University of Tokyo's School of Economics and New York University's Stern School of Business. Involved in M&A and the launch of global platform business at NTT Docomo. In 2016, he established Docomo Digital in London and developed the mobile payment business as CEO. After returning to Japan, he led Web3 and Metaverse as a partner at a DX consulting firm. In June 2023, he was appointed as Director and COO of DP.

DP's current organizational status consists of four main groups (development, business, corporate, and compliance), and the number of members has finally exceeded 20! However, as we are still a growing company, our organizational structure is flexible and we make changes as appropriate, such as by reassigning groups (departments) and teams, in line with business growth. Under such circumstances, human resources strategy is the most important issue. In particular, there is an urgent need to secure human resources to support the development of stable coins and decentralized IDs, and in the future we will need human resources who not only have technical skills but also English proficiency so that we can smoothly collaborate with overseas companies. Masu. However, there is no point in hiring someone if they quit, so we place importance on the opinions of our members and work to create an organization that makes people feel, ``I'm so glad I joined this company!'' We will create a win-win environment for both the company and its members by building an evaluation system and focusing on well-being management, creating a company that is fun to work for and improving performance.

DP is a very open company. Even though many of us are working remotely, we are taking various initiatives to ensure that communication between employees is not lost. For example, our monthly pizza party! We strengthen collaboration within the company by meeting face-to-face while eating pizza.
From now on, we aim to become an organization that embodies diversity, and by bringing together members with diverse backgrounds, we aim to be an organization that promotes individual growth, which leads to the development of the entire organization!

Mr. Kato joined The Exchange (formerly Army and Air Force Exchange Services), a Department of Defense welfare fund entity, in 1996. In 2014, he became the first Japanese General Manager in The Exchange's 120-year history. After retiring, he joined our company in 2020 as an Executive Officer and will become a member of the Board of Directors in 2022.