In a pair of bold moves that could reshape the future of industry and finance, two leading technology companies—Fujitsu and Figure Technology Solutions Inc.—are making headlines for their groundbreaking initiatives in blockchain-driven sustainability and equity markets. As the world grapples with the twin challenges of decarbonization and digital transformation, these projects promise to deliver new models for transparency, efficiency, and trust across global supply chains and capital markets.
On January 14, 2026, AZoCleantech reported that Fujitsu had launched a demonstration experiment to track and safeguard the value flow of green steel within the steel industry. This project, which began in December 2025, was selected by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as part of its FY2025 Industrial Research Project. The initiative is formally titled the Survey Project on the Transmission of Green Steel Information Linked to Steel Materials Across Supply Chains. It addresses a pressing issue: how to ensure that the environmental benefits of green steel—produced with reduced CO2 emissions—are reliably tracked and transferred along the entire supply chain, from raw material producers to end users.
Fujitsu’s experiment relies on a mix of blockchain technology, advanced data distribution platforms, and its own expertise in CO2 emission reduction materials. The trial, running through February 2026, is designed to guarantee that environmental value data can be distributed securely and confidentially, without the risk of duplication or manipulation. At its core, the project aims to accelerate decarbonization in manufacturing—starting with steel—and to lay the groundwork for sustainable, transparent supply chains.
According to AZoCleantech, the experiment involves building a robust data distribution platform to ensure the traceability of company and industry data. One of the key challenges the project tackles is the potential for double-counting: when the same green steel certificate might be claimed multiple times as it passes through various processors or distribution channels. By leveraging blockchain’s inherent ability to create tamper-proof records, Fujitsu’s system will distribute third-party certified green steel certificates, verifying their uniqueness and maintaining their value as they move downstream.
Industry observers note that this is no small feat. The steel sector, long seen as a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, has been under mounting pressure to decarbonize. While green steel production methods—such as GX Mass Balance and GX Allocation—are gaining traction, the real test lies in ensuring that their environmental value isn’t lost or diluted as materials change hands. Fujitsu’s approach, built around its Uvance business model, aims to create a mechanism that allows for the secure and flexible sharing of reliable environmental value data—not just within Japan, but potentially across national and industry boundaries.
Fujitsu isn’t stopping with this demonstration. The company plans to use insights from the current project to develop broader mechanisms for green steel information distribution and to explore the creation of a "steel industry data space" beginning in 2026. This vision, as outlined by the company, is about more than technology: it’s about advancing corporate competitiveness and realizing a truly sustainable society. By supporting both environmental initiatives and digital transformation (DX) in the steel industry, Fujitsu is positioning itself at the intersection of two of the decade’s most important trends.
Meanwhile, another transformative application of blockchain is taking shape in the world of finance. On the same day, Bloomberg reported that Figure Technology Solutions Inc.—a company already known for its blockchain-based lending platforms—has unveiled the On-Chain Public Equity Network, or OPEN. This new platform enables companies to issue equity directly on Figure’s Provenance blockchain, a move that could fundamentally alter the dynamics of stock lending and ownership.
Unlike many previous attempts at tokenizing equities, Figure’s OPEN platform isn’t about creating synthetic representations of listed stocks. Instead, the blockchain-based shares issued on OPEN represent actual equity ownership, conferring the same rights and value as traditional shares. This distinction is crucial, as it means that the tokens are not mere proxies, but genuine digital assets tied directly to real-world equity.
What sets OPEN apart is its ability to facilitate direct lending and borrowing of shares between investors—without the need for traditional intermediaries like prime brokers. As Bloomberg explains, this could significantly reduce costs and complexity for market participants, while also increasing transparency and efficiency. By recording all transactions on a secure, immutable blockchain ledger, Figure’s platform promises to streamline processes that have long been bogged down by paperwork and middlemen.
For many in the industry, this development is especially timely. The traditional model of stock lending relies heavily on intermediaries who manage the transfer of shares, collect collateral, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. While this system has worked for decades, it is often criticized for its opacity and inefficiency. By moving these processes onto the blockchain, Figure hopes to create a more open, accessible, and trustworthy marketplace for equity lending.
Figure’s announcement comes at a moment when both institutional and retail investors are increasingly interested in blockchain’s potential to disrupt established financial practices. The Provenance blockchain, which underpins the OPEN platform, has already been used for a variety of financial services, including digital lending and asset management. With OPEN, Figure is betting that the next frontier will be the direct, peer-to-peer exchange of equity—an idea that could have far-reaching implications for how companies raise capital and how investors manage their portfolios.
Both Fujitsu and Figure are leveraging blockchain in ways that go beyond the hype of cryptocurrencies and speculative trading. Instead, they are focusing on real-world applications that address concrete problems: tracking the environmental value of green steel in complex supply chains, and enabling more efficient, transparent equity markets. These projects offer a glimpse into a future where blockchain isn’t just a buzzword, but a practical tool for building more sustainable and equitable systems.
Of course, challenges remain. For Fujitsu, the key test will be whether its data distribution platform can scale beyond the current demonstration and be adopted across the global steel industry. For Figure, the success of OPEN will depend on whether companies and investors are willing to embrace a new paradigm for equity issuance and lending. Regulatory hurdles, technical integration, and industry buy-in will all play a role in determining the ultimate impact of these initiatives.
Still, the momentum is unmistakable. As both companies push forward, they are setting new standards for what’s possible at the intersection of technology, industry, and sustainability. Whether it’s decarbonizing steel or democratizing equity markets, the message is clear: blockchain’s promise is finally starting to deliver where it matters most.
