Tatsuya Saito, CEO of Progmat Inc.

The challenge and innovation of creating a new financial infrastructure

Tatsuya Saito, Founder and CEO of Progmat Inc.
Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation Adviser
Director of Japan Security Token Association

■ Profile
He joined Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation in 2010. After working in corporate sales, business planning, and IT planning, he established the FinTech Promotion Office in 2016 and, as the first full-time person in charge, planned and promoted Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation's digital strategy.
As a serial intrapreneur, he has launched the information banking platform "Dprime," the digital securities platform "Progmat," the stablecoin platform "Progmat Coin," the functional NFT platform "Progmat UT," and the "Digital Asset Co-creation Consortium," which has numerous member organizations.
In 2022, he announced that the digital asset platform business would be made into an independent company with investments from multiple financial institutions, exchanges, and software companies, and he became its representative when it was founded in October 2023. He has eight registered patents.

Finance supports the social system and enriches people's lives. With this in mind, Progmat Inc. is working to provide new possibilities and financial infrastructure by creating systems that more people can use with peace of mind. We spoke to Tatsuya Saito, the company's representative director, founder, and CEO, about Progmat's success and the mindset that university students should have.

◾️A new financial infrastructure that connects securities and money

Progmat provides a new form of financial infrastructure. Our business activities are divided into two main areas. The first is creating a new market for assets in which everyone can invest. Specifically, we tokenize unlisted securities and assets themselves (transferable data on the blockchain), which previously only institutional investors could trade, and provide a system that allows individuals to access them even with small amounts. The second is creating a new network for remittances and payments. By tokenizing Japanese yen and US dollars, we can solve various problems, particularly those that arise in international remittances, and facilitate the smooth movement of funds across borders. Traditionally, international remittances have involved multiple banks, resulting in high and opaque fees and taking several days to complete. However, by utilizing the infrastructure provided by Progmat, we can enable instant and low-cost remittances to diverse regions.

Progmat is the only company in Japan that offers both asset and money tokenization platforms. The key to our success in this unique position is our integration of blockchain technology and trust law. During my time as a trust banker, I gained access to in-house experts and gained knowledge. By combining this with blockchain technology, we were able to create a unique service that competitors could not easily imitate. We have been able to obtain eight patents because efforts to combine trust and blockchain are rare in the general public. In fact, there are very few companies doing the same thing in this field, not only in Japan but globally. We provide an infrastructure that allows for freer flows of assets and money and stimulates transactions throughout society. The realization of the unique financial infrastructure offered by Progmat is deeply connected to my own unexpected career path.

◾️Life is interesting because it's unpredictable

　Looking back, I began my career with no clear vision of the future. I was born and raised in Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, and studied economics at Tohoku University. I wasn't particularly diligent as a student. I looked at a wide range of industries during my job search, but I was drawn to the unique position in the financial industry, which lies somewhere between private services and public infrastructure. After joining Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation, I was able to gain experience in corporate sales, which I had hoped for at the time, as a junior employee. However, I also experienced career setbacks and was unintentionally transferred to the back office. I was extremely confused and honestly considered quitting more than once, but I was inspired by the words of my superiors at times: "You'll fall. It's up to you to get back up," and "Make a comeback." A turnaround project I worked on directly with an engineer under the general manager became a major turning point. As a result, I dramatically increased productivity, earning recognition both within and outside my department. This success led to me being invited to join the newly established IT Planning Department, where I planned the launch of the "FinTech Promotion Office." As the only dedicated person in charge, I have taken on a number of new business ventures, one of which is the current Progmat business.

　The most important thing I've learned throughout my career is to "devote all my energy to the tasks at hand." Career plans often don't go as planned, and unpredictable events, transfers, and changes are inevitable. However, it's precisely when you encounter these unexpected situations that you have the opportunity to expand your potential. When I joined the company, I never imagined I'd end up as the CEO of a blockchain-driven startup. However, by consistently and honestly addressing the challenges before me, I was presented with opportunities to launch new businesses and become independent. Coincidences are inevitable in life. I believe that the key to expanding your potential is to have a positive attitude toward the coincidences that arise in your career. Even when things don't go as planned, it's up to you to turn them into opportunities. I believe that by working hard in the environment you're in at the time, you can carve out a new future.

◾️Message to university students

I have two things I would like to share with all of you, university students. The first is the "theory of planned coincidence." Life is unpredictable, but placing yourself in an environment where change is likely to occur can open up wonderful, unexpected opportunities. When in doubt, I recommend always choosing a choice that offers more change. During my career, I was initially assigned to a back-office job I never imagined. I was initially disappointed, but it ultimately led to my next big opportunity. Even events you wouldn't choose can become major turning points if you approach them with a positive attitude. The second is "connecting the dots," as spoken of by Steve Jobs. This is the idea that even if you don't understand the meaning of what you're doing at the time, it will surely become meaningful later. Looking back, I realize that the many difficulties and unexpected events I experienced as a student and in the workforce have become the foundation of my current success. For example, seemingly unrelated experiences, such as working in IT planning and starting a FinTech promotion office, all connected later. So, never think of the small challenges in front of you as a waste; tackle each one with all your might. I hope you will move forward with the belief that this will be an important piece that will shape the future.

Interviewed by Takafumi Yoshida, a fourth-year student at the University of Tokyo, on February 14, 2025, in the Student Newspaper Online

Chuo University, third-year student, Mukai Yukiyuki / Kyoto University of the Arts, first-year student, Inomoto Reina / Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, second-year student, Shoji Haruna / Josai International University, first-year student, Watanabe Yurie / University of Tokyo, fourth-year student, Yoshida Takafumi