Japan FinTech Observer | Tontines | ex-Goldman & Barclays Tech MD
corporate venture capital
HIRAC FUND, operated by Money Forward Venture Partners, a group company of Money Forward, has made an investment in E-SEP, which develops ceramic separation membranes. Background of the Investment Efforts toward decarbonization have become an urgent priority for society as a whole in order to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
corporate venture capital
WIZ.AI, a Singapore-based AI company pioneering the enterprise application of large language models (LLMs) in Southeast Asia, has announced the successful closing of its Series B funding round, raising tens of millions of USD. The round was led by SMBC Asia Rising Fund, the corporate venture capital arm of
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred thirty-sixth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. A couple of items from the rumor mill, as they seem to have escaped the inner circle of confidentiality. First, Revolut is working on obtaining a banking license in Japan. Prior to being sanctioned with a business improvement
quantum computing
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, SMBC Digital Marketing Corporation, and Quanmatic jointly conducted a proof-of-concept experiment on "app advertisement analysis using quantum computing" aimed at advancing advertisement distribution in smartphone applications. Background and Purpose Quantum computing is a next-generation computational technology, currently used mainly in hybrid combination with conventional
security token
Progmat, the core developer behind Japan's leading security token (ST) platform, has released the findings of a critical industry study, culminating in a standardized legal and operational framework designed to streamline the utilization of rights holder data in the ST ecosystem. The comprehensive "ST Data Linkage Streamlining
stablecoin
At the end of October, the Bank of Korea (BOK) published a report regarding the opportunities, risks, and necessary policy responses surrounding the potential introduction of a Won-pegged stablecoin (SC) in Korea. Titled "Currency in the Digital Era: Harmony of Innovation and Trust," the report adopts a cautious
broker/dealer
Nomura Holdings reported solid financial results for the second quarter (Q2) of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026 (FY2025/26), demonstrating strengthened profitability across its key segments, particularly Wholesale and its stable revenue businesses. While Group Net Income Attributable to Shareholders of Nomura Holdings declined quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) to ¥92.
capital markets
Japan Exchange Group (JPX) reported solid financial results for the first half of fiscal year 2025 (FY2025 Q2 cumulative), driven primarily by increased activity in cash equities and a significant contribution from interest rate-related collateral management within clearing services. Operating Revenue rose 9.2% year-over-year (YoY) to JPY 89,322
mergers & acquisitions
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) has acquired the Collector Vehicle Division from Ignyte Insurance, a Carlyle-backed portfolio company. The transaction, valued at $615 million, brings four of the most respected names in collector vehicle insurance into the PHLY family: American Collectors Insurance, J.C. Taylor Insurance, Condon Skelly and Heacock Classic.
debt financing
Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) has provided loan insurance for back financing related to a loan extended by a venture debt fund to Hella Infra Market Singapore, a Singapore-based subsidiary of an Indian start-up company. This marks the first individual transaction under the framework agreement entered into by NEXI,
FHE
Fhenix, the leading infrastructure protocol powering Private DeFi via homomorphic encryption, has received strategic investments from BIPROGY and the Translink Sustainability & Innovation Fund. BIPROGY, renamed from Nihon Unisys in 2022, is one of Japan’s largest IT service providers, with a strong footprint in the financial sector. This move
stablecoin
Secured Finance AG, a Japanese-founded, Swiss-incorporated developer of fixed-rate DeFi lending protocols, has announced a new suite of products built around the Japanese yen stablecoin JPYC. The initiative aims to bring the Yen yield curve on-chain, enabling global investors to access the Japanese interest-rate market through transparent, decentralized infrastructure. Key