Japan Smart Chain Unveils Testnet and Launches Early Preview of the Mizuhiki Suite
AltX Research has launched the first Japan Smart Chain (JSC) testnet and an early preview of the Mizuhiki Suite; a modular trust and compliance layer built for invited web3 developers.
JSC is a Japan-sovereign, Ethereum-compatible Layer 1 blockchain validated by domestic industry leaders. As a “compliance-first” chain, it embeds blacklist enforcement and transaction prioritization, offering trusted infrastructure for regulated digital-asset services without compromising usability.
The Mizuhiki Suite builds on this foundation, providing modular tools for on-chain identity, compliance, and risk management; enabling businesses to launch compliant digital services without fragmented off-chain processes.
About the testnet
The early release of the Japan Smart Chain testnet will allow developers to test existing and new applications and prepare applications for the JSC Mainnet launch, expected 2026. The testnet is currently limited to invited developers and JSC Vision Partners, and includes access to RPC Endpoint, testnet faucet for gas, a testnet block explorer, and a community forum for developers to engage with.
AltX Research has named the first JSC testnet “Kaigan”, symbolizing the initial phase of the Japan Smart Chain ecosystem - the moment when latent potential begins to crystallize into tangible form. The name is inspired by the Japanese tea ceremony concept 蟹眼 (kaigan), which captures the moment when water starts to boil and tiny bubbles rise—signifying the transition from stillness to motion. In the Way of Tea (茶道), this moment carries profound metaphorical significance—marking the shift from inaction to action and from silence to dynamic endeavor. To us, the testnet “Kaigan” represents that pivotal first step—where early use cases and implementation efforts begin to take shape. We view it as the moment when concept transitions into reality.
About the Mizuhiki preview
AltX Research is unveiling a hands-on demonstration of Mizuhiki Identity, a key component of the Mizuhiki Suite. Through this demonstration, developers will learn how to use Mizuhiki Identity for regulated on-chain activities, enabling them to build compliant applications on JSC at low cost. For example, developers can combine on-chain identity with programmable policy enforcement, enabling safe and compliant use of stablecoins, DeFi, and other regulated web3 services.
On the occasion of this milestone, Russell Cummer, Co-founder of AltX Research K.K., shared the following comments: ‘Today, we launch the Kaigan testnet and unveil the Mizuhiki Suite: the first step in a journey we’re building together with our vision partners and developers. With every line of code and every insight from our community, we’re laying the foundation for a new digital society: one defined by trust, resilience, and inclusion. Japan Smart Chain isn’t just another Layer 1: it’s an invitation to co-create the next standard for Japan and beyond. The future is modular, compliant, and composable. Let’s shape it together.’
Norbert Gehrke
