The Financial Services Agency (FSA) hosted the 4th Meeting of the Financial System Council Working Group on Crypto-Assets on October 22, 2025. The discussion focused heavily on cybersecurity, the strengthening of the self-regulatory organization (SRO) Japan Virtual and Crypto Assets Exchange Association (JVCEA), and the future regulatory framework for crypto
Infcurion debuted on the TSE’s Growth Segment on Friday, October 24, 2025. After bookbuilding resulted in a ¥1,680 reference price, above the indicated range up to ¥1,600, the stock’s first quote was ¥1,560, and the closing price ¥1,451, altogether an underwhelming debut. At the
S&P Global Ratings recently hosted a webinar, "Corporate Japan’s Cross-Border Funding Enhance Financial Flexibility," focusing on the drivers, credit implications, and the relationship between corporates and domestic banks. The webinar also included coverage of new issuers, which we have excluded from this reporting on the
DG Daiwa Ventures (DGDV), a venture capital firm investing both domestically and internationally, has completed the final close of "DGDV Fund III E.L.P. Cayman", which targets seed and early-stage startups in Japan and abroad, at over 10 billion yen. Additionally, coinciding with the launch of Fund
The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) has been increasing its exposure to alternative investments (infrastructure, private equity and real estate). To regularly and efficiently obtain detailed data on the investment performance of funds in the market, GPIF begins building a database on alternative assets. The GPIF's 5th 5-year
Habit Factory, a Seoul, South Korea-based AI-driven fintech company, has raised KRW 35 billion in Series D funding. The round was led by Z Venture Capital (ZVC) and Smilegate Investment, with participation from Industrial Bank of Korea, IBK Venture Investment, Kolon Investment, KB Investment, and Shinhan Venture Investment. Z Venture
SBI Holdings, through its U.S. subsidiary SBI Holdings USA, has made an investment in the AI2 Incubator Fund III newly established by AI2 Incubator Partners, an AI incubator. This investment aims to capture global investment opportunities in the AI field and strengthen collaboration with startups possessing cutting-edge technology. AI2
Quantum Solutions acquired an additional 500.43 ETH (approximately $1.925 million USD) through its Hong Kong subsidiary GPT Pals Studio Limited. This brings the group's total ETH holdings to 4,366.27 ETH (total acquisition cost approximately $17.78 million USD), establishing Quantum Solutions as the largest
gumi has invested in a PIPE (Private Investment in Public Equity) financing for Evernorth, a U.S.-based company, alongside SBI Holdings, gumi Group's largest major shareholder and capital and business partner, Ripple Labs, and other investors. Evernorth is a company established to promote the adoption of the
JPYC Inc. was registered as a "Fund Transfer Service Provider" (Registration Number: Kanto Local Finance Bureau Director No. 00099) under Article 37 of the Payment Services Act on August 18, 2025. Following a preparation period, JPYC will officially begin issuing Japan's first Japanese yen-denominated stablecoin "
SBI Holdings-owned B2C2, a global leader in institutional liquidity for digital assets, has launched PENNY, the industry’s first zero-fee stablecoin swap solution. As the number of different stablecoins grows worldwide—each with different issuers, blockchains, and redemption processes—institutions face mounting operational complexity in managing liquidity across this fragmented
MILIZE announces the introduction of a life plan simulation function developed by the company into the "Chibagin App," a smartphone application provided by The Chiba Bank. Background of Implementation In recent years, personal life planning has become an increasingly important issue due to rapid social changes and the
politics
On October 20, 2025, Japan's Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party) signed a comprehensive coalition government agreement to form a stable administration under what would become Japan's first female prime minister, Takaichi Sanae. Economic and Fiscal Policy The coalition commits
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred thirty-fourth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Another day, another record high for the Nikkei 225 - by the time I hit sent on this weekly report, we might well have crossed the 50,000 index level for the first time. Obviously, one of the
stablecoin
Japan's three megabanks are planning to jointly issue corporate-use stablecoins pegged to legal tender like the yen and the dollar, aiming to promote their use in the country. MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and Mizuho Bank intend to issue the stablecoins under a unified standard for use
fintech
The "Financial Innovation Category" of the Tokyo Financial Award invited financial businesses to apply for “Solutions” to “Themes to be solved” which are based on the needs and challenges related to financial services which were submitted by residents and businesses in Tokyo. The solutions submitted by applicants were
payments
PayPay Corporation has launched "PayPay Gift," which allows users to send digital gift certificates to friends and family for use at partner stores. Senders can set the gift certificate amount in 1-yen increments as desired, and send them with personalized messages such as "Thank you" or
bonds
In a major move signaling rising credit costs in the Japanese market, Rakuten Group successfully priced a JPY 82 billion perpetual subordinated bond. Announced on October 17, 2025, the issuance carried the highest coupon for a local bond deal this year, immediately drawing significant attention from domestic and international investors.
finance
Money Forward (3994.T) reported a mixed set of third-quarter results that revealed a company in the midst of a profound strategic transformation. While net sales for the period ending August 31, 2025, fell short of market expectations, a sharp focus on cost discipline allowed the company to significantly beat
banking
In a significant signal that global financial giants are eager to establish regulated footing in the U.S. digital asset market, Sony Bank has formally applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to establish a national trust bank. Dated October 6, 2025, the application outlines plans
crypto
The Financial Stability Board (FSB) has published its 100+ page "Thematic Review on FSB Global Regulatory Framework for Crypto-asset Activities," from which we have extracted all information related to the regulatory environment in Japan for Crypto-Asset Activities (CA) and Global Stablecoin Arrangements (GSC). Regulatory Framework Summary (Overall Status)
cross-border payments
NTT Data has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NPCI International Payments Limited, a subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). The MoU establishes the foundation to enable acceptance of Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India's leading real-time payment system for Indian tourists in Japan. This
corporate venture capital
Sony Financial Ventures and Global Brain Corporation have established a new joint venture company through a co-investment. The rapidly changing environment has been requiring startups to accelerate business expansion, go global, and adopt sophisticated fundraising practice, causing more complex management issues. This has heightened expectations for investment partners who can
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred thirty-third edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. What a difference a week makes! For last week's edition, it seemed a foregone conclusion that Takaichi, coming fresh off her victory in the LDP presidential election, would become Japan's first female prime minister.