quantum computing
Fujitsu and SC Ventures, the innovation arm of Standard Chartered, have formally announced the operational roadmap for Qubitra Technologies, a London-based joint venture designed to transition quantum computing from theoretical research to practical, commercial application within the financial services sector. Incubated under the working title "Project Quanta" in
stablecoin
In a major push to modernize Japan’s payment infrastructure, Digital Garage (DG), global payments brand JCB, and Resona Holdings have entered into a tripartite partnership aimed at the full-scale social implementation of stablecoin payments. The coalition aims to establish a next-generation financial ecosystem that leverages the stability and speed
corporate venture capital
Japanese banking giant Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has made its first-ever investment through its new corporate venture capital (CVC) fund. The fund, named the "SMBC Fin Atlas Beyond Fund" and launched in collaboration with Fin Capital, has participated in the recent $58 million funding round for WitnessAI,
broker/dealer
Japanese-founded and US-headquartered Alpaca, a provider of API-first stock and crypto brokerage infrastructure, has raised $150 million in a Series D funding round, propelling the company’s valuation to $1.15 billion. The round was led by Drive Capital, with participation from major institutional players including Citadel Securities, Kraken, and
Insurance
Nippon Life Insurance Company is currently executing a tender offer to acquire Medical Data Vision, with the ultimate objective of making it a wholly-owned subsidiary. This acquisition represents a decisive strategic step by Nippon Life, marking a significant investment into the high-growth healthcare data sector. This analysis will deconstruct the
cryptocurrency exchange
Binance Japan has officially launched the "Binance Japan Card", issued in partnership with Life Card and operating on the JCB network. This marks a significant move to integrate cryptocurrency into the daily spending habits of Japanese consumers. Bridging Fiat and Crypto The flagship feature of the Binance Japan
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred forty-sixth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. According to Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Japan is running hot. Can you feel it? Here is what we are going to cover this week: * Venture Capital & Private Markets: Credit Saison supports Mylapay's USD 1m bridge
consumer finance
AEON Financial Service has demonstrated notable resilience in its performance for the nine months ending November 30, 2025, achieving robust top-line growth. The company's results tell a clear story: its strategic investments in a powerful domestic banking and digital payments ecosystem are generating a low-cost funding engine that
robo advisor
FOLIO Holdings is an innovative financial solutions company operating within the larger SBI Group. It is driven by a powerful and forward-looking core mission, "Designing tomorrow's finance." Guided by this mission, FOLIO Holdings focuses on creating the next generation of financial solutions required by modern society,
asset management
JAMP Fund Management has entered into a strategic partnership with Nippon Value Investors, marking the first commercial deployment of its newly established ETF White-label Services. The collaboration aims to list a Japan-domiciled active ETF on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) by spring 2026. The agreement serves as a proof-of-concept for
japanese government bonds
A recent NLI Research Institute report examines the shifting landscape of Japanese Government Bond (JGB) ownership as the Bank of Japan reduces its massive holdings. With long-term interest rates rising due to monetary policy normalization and fiscal expansion, the analysis highlights a growing need for private investors to fill the
artificial intelligence
Nowcast, a subsidiary of the Finatext Group, has successfully completed development and deployment of "DAM-AICore," a proprietary generative AI application tailored exclusively for Daiwa Asset Management. The move marks a significant step in the asset manager’s digital transformation (DX) strategy, combining a custom front-end AI interface with