capital markets
The Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) and Osaka Exchange (OSE) have issued official censures to Moomoo Securities Japan, and ordered the firm to submit a business improvement report following severe operational and compliance failures. The regulatory action stems from deliberations by Japan Exchange Regulation following an inspection by the Securities and
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred seventy-eighth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. "Economists have predicted nine of the last five recessions" is a quote often attributed to Paul Samuelson. The same can be said of those forecasting a stock market crash. And more recently, of those either
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred seventy-seventh edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Marie Kondo has reached the Japan FinTech Observer. Curating a weekly newsletter undoubtedly has the benefit that we do not have to chase every headlines at every hour, and rather take the opportunity to contemplate thoroughly about
capital markets
Faced with a demographic cliff and the urgency of a "savings-to-investment" transition, the Japan Securities Dealers Association's 2026–2027 Strategic Roadmap targets the mobilization of Japan’s ¥2,000 trillion in household assets to fuel a high-functioning capital hub. By synchronizing retail participation
digital assets
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), through its subsidiaries MUFG Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking, has launched a proof-of-concept (PoC) to bring Japanese Government Bond repurchase transactions on-chain. The initiative is being conducted in collaboration with blockchain infrastructure providers Digital Asset
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred seventy-sixth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. While we are right in the middle of earnings season, we have kept this edition free of financial results, and hope to bring you a consolidated view once the majority of companies has reported (and we have
digital assets
BOOSTRY and Digital Asset Holdings have announced a strategic collaboration aimed at accelerating the adoption of on-chain finance and digital capital markets both in Japan and internationally. As the initial initiative of this alliance, the two companies are co-developing a multi-chain enterprise wallet service, which BOOSTRY plans
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred seventy-fifth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. UBS' Chief Economist Paul Donovan has - as so often - put it succinctly: "The yen has strengthened again after the US confirmed it intervened with Japan in support of the currency. Buying yen was not only
capital markets
JPX Market Innovation & Research (JPX-R), the index-governance arm of the Japan Exchange Group, has formalized its policy to suspend the inclusion of companies with dominant cryptocurrency holdings in its flagship market benchmarks. This decision, following a consultation period initiated on April 3, 2026, marks a definitive structural
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred seventy-fourth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Contingency planning is an essential skill, not only in business. Over the past week, my timeline was flooded with explainers/comments/outrage on the contemplated stricter requirements for permanent residency. It is not something I have spent
asset management
Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) flows in the Japanese equity market have evolved into a primary battlefield for institutional liquidity, serving as a high-frequency barometer for professional sentiment. As of June 30, 2026, the second quarter has revealed a massive reshuffling of capital, where the ability of a product to
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred seventy-third edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Over the last few weeks, the baton for Japan's largest market capitalization company has moved from a car maker to a chip maker to a bank. Despite retreating from an intra-day high of over