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Rakuten Obtains Patent for Simplifying P2P E-Money Transfers

Norbert Gehrke

28 Jul 2025 — 4 min read

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 recipient is also a registered user of the same e-money service. This creates friction and a burden on the sender, potentially discouraging the use of the service. The invention aims to reduce this burden by creating a seamless transfer process, regardless of the recipient's registration status.

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Japan FinTech Observer #122

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