Sumitomo Life Confirms Improper Data Acquisition by Seconded Staff; Target Set to Withdraw All Agency Secondees by March 2026

Sumitomo Life Insurance Company has released the findings of an internal investigation, confirming that employees seconded to independent insurance agencies engaged in the improper acquisition of sensitive business information. The investigation, which spanned operations from April 2022 through October 2025, revealed that seconded staff transmitted proprietary data back to Sumitomo

Japan FinTech Observer #150

Welcome to the one hundred fiftieth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. The Japanese election completely overshadowed our monumental achievement of the 150th edition of the Japan FinTech Observer, while crossing 15,000 subscriber (on LinkedIn alone, ~20,000 across platforms) 😀 we remain humble, and truly appreciate your spending time

Mizuho Third Quarter Financial Results

Mizuho Financial Group’s performance through the third quarter of fiscal year 2025 represents a significant point in the Group’s medium-term trajectory. Achieving the 90% progress mark toward full-year profit targets as of December 31, 2025, Mizuho has established a formidable earnings buffer. This quarter serves as a vital

MUFG Third Quarter Financial Results

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) has demonstrated exceptional strategic resilience through the first nine months of FY2025, navigating a pivot in the domestic macroeconomic environment characterized by yield curve steepening and the initial stages of JPY net interest margin (NIM) expansion. The group’s revised net income target of ¥2.

SMBC and GoAhead Ventures Launch Video Platform to Boost Japanese Startups' Access to 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

Japan Stablecoin Summit: What is the Biggest Barrier to Stablecoin Adoption?

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

Japan Stablecoin Summit: What Impact have Stablecoins had in the World?

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

SBI Holdings' Third Quarter Financial Results

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

Japan Stablecoin Summit: Stablecoin Use Cases in Japan

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,

Japan Stablecoin Summit: Outlook for the Domestic Stablecoin Market in 2026

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

METI Reconvenes Panel to Clarify Takeover Guidelines Amid Shifts in Legal and Market Landscape

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

SBI Shinsei Bank's Third Quarter Financial Results

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

MUFG Taps Ex-T. Rowe Price CIO to Lead New ¥50 Billion Growth Fund

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 Innovation Category Winners

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 Taps UBS’s uMINT Token for On-Chain Collateral in Partnership with DigiFT

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

Nasdaq Deepens Footprint in Japan as Osaka Exchange Selects Eqlipse Platform for Derivatives Overhaul

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,

broker/dealer

Penguin Securities Pushes for Expansion in Singapore and Japan

Penguin Securities has completed its Pre-Series A financing round, bringing the Singapore-based group’s cumulative funding to USD 18 million. The announcement signals a continued appetite among investors for infrastructure plays that bridge the gap between the burgeoning digital asset economy and traditional financial markets. The funding round was structured

blockchain

SBI Holdings and Startale Target $19 Trillion RWA Market with New Layer 1 Blockchain ‘Strium’

Japanese financial services giant SBI Holdings and Web3 infrastructure firm Startale Group have formally unveiled "Strium," a joint venture aimed at establishing a dominant blockchain infrastructure for the Asian capital markets. The project represents the first major deliverable from the strategic partnership the two entities formed in August

payments

Digital Garage Enhances Payment Aggregation Platform via AEON Pay Integration

DG Financial Technology (DGFT), the payment processing subsidiary of Digital Garage (TSE Prime: 4819), has expanded its unified QR code payment solution, "Cloud Pay," to include support for "AEON Pay." This integration connects DGFT’s merchant network with the extensive user base of AEON Financial Service.

broker/dealer

SMBC Nikko Establishes Dedicated DeFi Unit, Positioning for 2026 Regulatory Shift in Japan

SMBC Nikko Securities has established a "DeFi Technology Department" to capitalize on Japan’s evolving digital asset landscape. The new division is tasked with spearheading the brokerage’s expansion into decentralized finance (DeFi) and crypto asset services, anticipating major legislative overhauls expected later this year. The creation of

capital markets

SSI Asset Management Company and the Development Bank of Japan launch the $90m Japan Vietnam Capital Fund

The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) has established a joint investment framework in Vietnam with Saigon Securities (SSI), a leading private securities firm in Vietnam. The launch comes at a pivotal moment for Vietnam’s capital market, as FTSE Russell has upgraded Vietnam to Secondary Emerging Market status and the

neobank

Credit Saison Keeps Innovating: Launches Brazil Online Bank and Instant Digital Lending in Japan

In a dual-pronged strategy to combat a saturated domestic market and capitalize on global FinTech adoption, Japanese financial services group Credit Saison has announced a major expansion of its international footprint alongside a targeted new product launch in Japan. The Tokyo-based credit card issuer confirmed this week that it plans

Weekly

Japan FinTech Observer #149

Welcome to the one hundred forty-ninth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. The one hundred-fiftieth edition will arrive in your inbox post the February 8 election. If you are looking to meet in person this week, you will find us at the Japan Stablecoin Summit No. 2, the JBA Meetup

broker/dealer

Nomura's Third Quarter Financial Results

Nomura Holdings’ third-quarter results for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2026, provide a clear validation of the firm’s "2030 Management Vision." Achieving a Return on Equity (ROE) of 10.3%, the group has now successfully met its 8%–10% target range for the seventh consecutive quarter.