payments
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.
cashless
Fiserv (NASDAQ: FISV) is deepening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, announcing a strategic partnership with Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company (SMCC) to introduce its flagship Clover point-of-sale capabilities to the Japanese market. The agreement aims to deploy the Clover suite—an integrated payment and business management platform—to millions of
stablecoin
In a move aimed at bringing blockchain-based settlements to the mass market, JPYC Inc., the issuer of the yen-pegged stablecoin JPYC, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LINE NEXT, the U.S.-based Web3 subsidiary of tech conglomerate LINE Yahoo. The partnership explores the integration of the JPYC
stablecoin
JPYC, the prominent Japanese Yen-pegged stablecoin, is set to undergo a significant stress test in the physical retail environment, moving beyond the digital realm to power real-world transactions through Japan’s My Number Card system. In a move that signals the increasing convergence of Web3 assets and traditional payment infrastructure,
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
payments
Lacoste Japan has reported a significant recovery in its digital transaction processing capabilities, announcing that authorization approval rates have surged to 90% following the integration of Riskified’s (NYSE:RSKD) AI-driven fraud detection platform. The implementation, completed in May 2025, marks a strategic pivot for the French apparel giant’s
stablecoin
NETSTARS, a leading QR code payment gateway provider, will begin a pilot program accepting Circle's U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin "USDC" for payments at physical retail locations within Haneda Airport Terminal 3. The initiative, claimed by the company to be a first for brick-and-mortar stores in Japan,
tokenized deposits
DeCurret DCP has entered into a strategic partnership with Kyushu Financial Group and its banking subsidiaries—The Higo Bank and The Kagoshima Bank—to explore the implementation of tokenized deposits using the "DCJPY" digital currency network. This collaboration marks the first initiative of its kind by a regional
payments
The landscape of business-to-business (B2B) transactions in Japan is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by the rapid growth of Business Invoice Payment Services (BIPS). These services provide a vital bridge between traditional invoicing and modern cashless payments, enhancing operational flexibility for Japanese enterprises. This rapid adoption has outpaced direct legislative
stablecoin
SBI VC Trade and Aplus, both subsidiaries of the financial conglomerate SBI Group, will partner to launch a proof-of-concept (PoC) for in-store payments using the U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, USD Coin (USDC). The pilot program, scheduled to commence in the spring of 2026, aims to establish a new commercial model
payment
Digital Garage has made a significant update to "App Pay," its third-party payment platform for mobile applications. The new user interface features a "Link-Out" capability designed to align directly with Japan's "Act on Promotion of Competition for Certain Smartphone Software" (Smartphone Act)
bnpl
Smooth, a FinTech startup disrupting the Japanese real estate market with its initial-cost installment payment service, has successfully completed the first close of its Series B funding round. The company has raised a total of approximately ¥2.85 billion (approx. USD 19.5 million), comprising both third-party equity allocation and