Japan FinTech Observer | Tontines | ex-Goldman & Barclays Tech MD
banking
GMO Aozora Net Bank and the University of Tokyo Graduate School of Engineering Morikawa-Narisue Laboratory have officially launched joint research towards the construction of innovative credit risk assessment models utilizing AI and machine learning. In other news, TRABOX has launched a new service called "Finto Invoice Payment", which
bitcoin
Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed Quantum Solutions has entered into a business collaboration arrangement with TDX Strategies to cooperate extensively in areas including Bitcoin trade execution, asset custody, structured product design, and market risk management—offering end-to-end technical and service support for Quantum Solutions' Bitcoin Treasury strategy. Quantum Solutions previously disclosed
credit card
Tokyo Metro has announced the launch of a post-payment boarding service using touch payment methods with compatible cards (including credit, debit, and prepaid cards) and smartphones with such cards configured, on all Tokyo Metro lines starting in spring 2026. Tokyo Metro has been operating a "boarding service utilizing credit
credit card
High-end credit cards have recently become extremely popular in Japan, offering a variety of lifestyle benefits, rather than just loyalty points acceleration. For example, NTT Docomo has been successful with its Platinum card offerings (call us happy customers). Japan Airlines is taking the concept one level beyond, aiming for a
private equity
Japan Post Insurance, KKR, and Global Atlantic, a leading provider of retirement security and investment solutions, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of KKR, have entered into definitive agreements under which Japan Post Insurance will invest $2 billion (approx. JPY 300 billion) in a new vehicle sponsored by Global Atlantic. Japan Post
artificial intelligence
JAPAN AI has raised a total of 1.9 billion yen in Series B funding with participation from JAFCO Group, Nissay Capital, FCE, and Resona Capital. The raised funds will be utilized to strengthen talent acquisition, expand AI agent capabilities and enhance quality, and strengthen AI integration with marketing SaaS,
credit card
mergers & acquisitions
Mizuho Bank has concluded a share transfer agreement with the shareholders of Upsider Holdings to acquire a majority of Upsider’s shares. Mizuho Bank will acquire approximately 70% of Upsider’s shares at a price of approximately ¥46 billion from their current holders, which include venture capital firms in and
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred twenty-second edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We have implemented our own, very personal "Don't buy American" policy, which might seem ironic, given that you are most likely to read this newsletter on LinkedIn, but we do offer a self-hosted version
asset management
payments
Visa Worldwide Japan, SAP Japan, Sumitomo Mitsui Card, and Digital Garage have launched an embedded finance solution for B2B payments developed through collaboration between Visa and SAP, marking the first deployment of this solution in Japan during fiscal year 2025 to improve B2B payment efficiency. Visa began collaborating with SAP
payment
Rakuten Group has obtained a patent for a system and method for simplifying person-to-person (P2P) e-money transfers, particularly when the recipient is not yet a registered user of the e-money service. 1. Core Problem to be Solved Traditionally, to send e-money to someone, the sender must first confirm that the