Japan FinTech Observer | Tontines | ex-Goldman & Barclays Tech MD
venture capital
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC Group) is deepening its engagement with the global venture capital ecosystem, launching a new video pitch platform designed to connect Japanese seed-stage startups with institutional capital. The initiative, launched in collaboration with Silicon Valley-based GoAhead Ventures, aims to democratize access to funding by removing traditional
stablecoins
At the second Japan Stablecoin Summit hosted by Pacific Meta, KDDI and Progmat, legal and industry experts gathered to dissect why stablecoin adoption has not yet matched the speed of legislative progress. The consensus was clear: while the laws are in place, the practical business environment remains restrictive, and a
stablecoins
At the second annual Japan Stablecoin Summit hosted by Pacific Meta, KDDI and Progmat, industry leaders from the Ethereum Foundation, Solana Foundation, Anchorage Digital, and Nethermind gathered to discuss the maturation of the digital asset landscape. The panel painted a picture of a sector that has graduated from speculative trading
banking
SBI Holdings has reached a definitive tipping point in its evolution from an online brokerage pioneer to Japan’s dominant financial powerhouse. The 9M FY2025 results signal a successful "Beyond Brokerage" transition where the group’s diversified revenue engines now more than compensate for the elimination of trading
stablecoins
As Japan solidifies its legal framework for stablecoins following the implementation of the revised Payment Services Act, the conversation has shifted from "can we do it?" to "how do we monetize it?" At the second Japan Stablecoin Summit, hosted on February 3, 2026, by Pacific Meta,
stablecoin
Pacific Meta, supported by KDDI and Progmat, hosted the second Japan Stablecoin Summit on February 3, 2026. This session discussed the domestic stablecoin market outlook for this year, with the following panelists: * Noritaka Okabe, CEO, JPYC (Issuer of yen-pegged stablecoin) * Yoshichika Imaizumi, Director for Blockchain and Innovation, Financial Services Agency
mergers & acquisitions
Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) is reconvening the Fair Acquisition Study Group, a move aimed at revisiting the country’s corporate takeover framework. The decision comes in response to growing concerns regarding market interpretation of existing rules and follows significant statutory changes to Japan’s financial
banking
SBI Shinsei Bank has entered a decisive growth phase, characterized by robust double-digit increases across all primary profitability metrics for the nine-month period ending December 31, 2025. This performance must be contextualized within the broader shift in the Japanese financial sector as the Bank of Japan is normalizing the interest
venture capital
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and its banking subsidiaries have commenced operations of Artemis Ventures, a new general partner entity designed to manage a targeted 50 billion yen ($330 million) equity fund focused on Japan’s mid-to-late-stage startups. The banking giant has appointed Archibald Ciganer—a veteran investor formerly with
tokyo metropolitan government
The 2025 Tokyo Financial Award winners—Impact Circle, Clarity AI, Japan Asset Management Platform Group, Myna Wallet, EduCare, and Henry could provide functional components of a broader structural reorganization of the Japanese financial landscape. As the Tokyo Metropolitan Government intensifies its "Global Financial City: Tokyo" initiative, these six
DeFi
Secured Finance AG, the Japanese-founded, Swiss-based developer of the Secured Finance DeFi protocol, has integrated tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) into its lending platform, marking a significant step in bridging traditional capital markets with decentralized finance. Under the new partnership with DigiFT, a regulated exchange for real-world assets, users can now
stock exchange
The Osaka Exchange (OSE)—a subsidiary of the Japan Exchange Group—has selected Nasdaq (NDAQ) to provide the technology backbone for its next-generation derivatives platform. Under the agreement, OSE will deploy Nasdaq’s Eqlipse Trading and Market Surveillance platforms. The deal represents a significant modernization effort for the Japanese exchange,