Japan FinTech Observer | Tontines | ex-Goldman & Barclays Tech MD
cryptocurrency exchange
OSL Group, a publicly listed company (863.HK) fully dedicated to digital assets, has renamed CoinBest to OSL Japan, following the successful completion of its acquisition. As a publicly listed company, OSL Group is audited by a 'Big Four' accounting firm, ensuring high standards of transparency and compliance,
payments
Mercari's FinTech business represents a crucial pillar in the company's diversified portfolio, leveraging its established marketplace platform to offer financial services and payment solutions. The company recognizes that fostering financial inclusion and creating seamless transactional experiences for its users is a key driver of long-term growth.
CBDC
The Bank of Papua New Guinea, in cooperation with the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and FinTech company Soramitsu, has successfully completed a proof of concept for the country's central bank digital currency (CBDC), Digital Kina. The Digital Kina's PoC utilizes cutting-edge technology
stablecoin
Hokkoku Financial Holdings and its group company The Hokkoku Bank have started offering "Ishikawa Tochipo" points issued by Ishikawa Prefecture using the digital local currency service "Tochituka," which is jointly provided with Digital Platformer. "Ishikawa Tochipo" will be introduced as part of the utilization
banking
MUFG reported a strong financial performance for the first three quarters of the fiscal year ending in March 2025, highlighting record-high net operating profits (NOP) and net income, driven by robust customer segment growth, gains from equity sales, and increased earnings from equity method investments. The earnings release also addresses
Weekly
Welcome to the ninety-seventh edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Here you can view the future of Japan: Musashino University's Entrepreneurship Musashino Campus (EMC GLOBAL) held its academic year-end event and pitch contest, also including regional winners from the Philippines, Singapore, and India. The quality of the pitches
banking
Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG) is demonstrating strong financial performance in the first three quarters of FY3/2025, with consolidated net business profit reaching 90% of its target and bottom-line profit at 98%, significantly driven by domestic business growth and gains on stock holdings. The Medium-Term Management Plan initiatives are
stablecoin
JPYC held a seminar about its Japanese stablecoin, and its potential applications, on Friday, January 31, 2025. CEO Okabe's Self-Introduction and Company Overview Okabe begins by thanking the attendees and introducing himself as the CEO of JPYC, a company he founded five years prior. He explains his background
artificial intelligence
Mizuho Financial Group has established "Mizuho's AI Engagement Policy" as a fundamental policy for utilizing AI across the group. In recent years, AI technology has been rapidly evolving, and its applications have expanded into every domain of economic society. In the financial industry as well, AI
capital markets
Anderson Mori & Tomotsune, one of Japan's leading law firms, has published a newsletter discussing the application of disclosure liability under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA) concerning sustainability disclosures, particularly Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions, and the introduction of a new safe harbor provision. Introduction Sustainability
insider trading
In light of the fact that an employee of the Tokyo Stock Exchange, a subsidiary of Japan Exchange Group (JPX), was under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission (SESC) on suspicion of violation of insider trading regulations, JPX established an Independent Directors' Investigation Committee on September 27,
activist investor
The combination of the Tokyo Stock Exchange's "management that is conscious of capital" policies, and active investors have led to record share buy-backs, and increased dividends during the 2024 calendar year. In response to Elliott Management, which had taken a 5.03% stake in Tokyo Gas