Japan FinTech Observer | Tontines | ex-Goldman & Barclays Tech MD
venture capital
Nudge, a Tokyo-based FinTech startup operating the next-generation credit card service "Nudge," has raised 1.48 billion yen in a new funding round. This latest injection brings the company’s cumulative capital raised to approximately 6.5 billion yen. The financing structure stands out for its
payments
In a direct challenge to incumbent stablecoin issuers, independent firm Open Standard announced the upcoming launch of Open USD, a new dollar-pegged stablecoin built for global enterprise scale. Backed by a massive coalition of over 140 financial institutions, payment networks, and technology giants—including Visa, Mastercard, Stripe, Coinbase, and
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred seventieth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. What a night 😢 After witnessing first Japan, and then Germany exit the World Cup, your opportunistic author shifted his allegiance to our friendly Dutch neighbors, only to.....well, as you see, I will likely have to switch colors
digital assets
Following the signing of a Letter of Intent in May 2026, SBI Holdings' board of directors has approved a definitive agreement to turn cryptocurrency exchange bitbank into a wholly-owned subsidiary. The transaction will be executed through SBI’s specialized unit, SBICAH LLC, and involves a total acquisition cost
Economics
Japan’s Cabinet Office has released its medium- to long-term economic and fiscal projections through fiscal year 2040. The report analyzes the macroeconomic impact of regular government outlays paired with a mechanical assumption of ¥10 trillion in annual real-term additional fiscal spending starting in FY2027. The calculations are
Podcast
For the latest episode of the Japan FinTech Observer podcast, we explore the positive outlook for Japanese banking institutions as they transition into new midterm strategic plans. Analysts highlight that major and regional banks are significantly raising their profitability targets, with a specific focus on achieving higher Return on Equity
payments
The Ministry of Finance hosted the 11th "Expert Meeting on CBDC" on June 25, 2026, providing a moment of reflection on Japan's institutional readiness for a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Between October 2020 and June 2026, the Bank of Japan (BoJ) and the Ministry of
Economics
Japan’s benchmark 10-year government bond yield continues to hover at a elevated level of around 2.7%. Despite recent volatility triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, shifts in the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) policy stance, and the fiscal direction of the Takaichi administration, yields have
payments
Nomura Holdings has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Circle Internet Financial to develop and scale digital finance solutions across global markets, with a specific focus on Japan. The partnership will center on exploring the capabilities of on-chain finance—conducting financial transactions and settlements directly on blockchain networks.
venture capital
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and its consolidated subsidiary, MUFG Bank, have announced a strategic restructuring of their Indian investment operations. The group will consolidate the operating functions of the MUFG Ganesha Fund—an investment quota dedicated to Indian startups—under Mars Equity and its managed "Dragon Funds"
payments
Blockchain enterprise provider Ripple, in partnership with Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Holdings and its subsidiary SBI VC Trade, has officially launched its U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), in Japan. The launch follows official regulatory approval from the Japan Financial Services Agency (JFSA). Under Japan's Payment
banking
Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has imposed an Administrative Monetary Penalty (AMP) of RM520,000 on AEON Credit Service (M) Berhad for failing to comply with targeted financial sanctions (TFS) regulations. The regulatory action follows an on-site supervisory examination by BNM, which revealed that the non-bank financial institution had