venture capital
Volution has launched a new $100m fund to back the next generation of high-growth FinTech, AI and SaaS businesses tackling productivity challenges in capital markets and enterprise. The fund has been launched in partnership with leading Japanese venture capital investors, SBI Investment through a Co-GP arrangement that leverages the strengths
weekly
Welcome to the one hundred ninth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We are entering our own Japanese-style "triple witching" week. First, Golden Week has started, typically a good time to stay pat in Tokyo when everyone is traveling. However, travel has become expensive for Japanese residents, and
carbon credit
Carbon EX has supported the registration of Japan's first "J-Credit Project utilizing joint delivery" by Logisteed. This project is a groundbreaking initiative that leads to decarbonization in the logistics industry and the construction of a sustainable supply chain. Carbon EX is a joint venture between ASUENE
cross-border payments
Progmat has commenced Phase 2 practical verification for "Project Pax," aimed at building a cross-border remittance infrastructure using stablecoins. In addition, The Shoko Chukin Bank has become the first domestic bank to participate in this project. 1. Background and Purpose Project Pax, announced in September 2024, aims to
security token
BOOSTRY has begun offering "E-Prime for IR", a service that enables issuers who raise funds using security tokens to proactively refer to and use investor information and other information necessary for marketing. The domestic public offering of Security Tokens (ST) has reached a cumulative issuance amount of 168.
bitcoin
The "Crypto Asset Benchmark Study Group" organized by QUICK Corporation published a report entitled "Ecosystem Construction and Ripple Effects Brought About by a Domestic Crypto Asset Benchmark," which summarizes the discussions on the development of a domestic yen-denominated crypto asset benchmark (index). Discussions are accelerating in
unlisted stocks
SmartRound, which in September 2024 formed a capital alliance with Mizuho Financial Group (Mizuho Trust & Banking), MUFJ Morgan Stanley Securities, and Nomura, with the aim of jointly building a platform to optimize secondary trading of stocks issued by unlisted startups, has decided to transition its subsidiary SmartRound Securities to
payments
Stripe held its "Stripe Payment Summit 2025" to introduce its latest initiatives, announcing new features including PayPay online version and card installment payments, as well as a new partnership with DeNA. Stripe processes $1.4 trillion in payments (approximately 210 trillion yen), equivalent to about 1.3% of
insurtech
Guidewire announced a $60 million investment over the next five years to expand its operations in Japan and accelerate the delivery of capabilities tailored to the unique needs of Japanese insurers. This investment will enhance Guidewire's platform, empowering Japanese insurers to drive profitable growth, increase business and IT
venture capital
Hana Network, which enables cryptocurrency and fiat currency transactions without the need for exchanges, has raised an additional 300 million yen from investors across different countries in April 2025 in preparation for its upcoming product launch, bringing the total amount raised to approximately 900 million yen. Regarding the Funding Round
SaaS
Money Forward reported strong Q1 FY2025 results, demonstrating significant year-over-year (YoY) growth in sales (23%), SaaS ARR (26%), and adjusted EBITDA, achieving record highs. The company is confident in achieving its full-year forecast. Key strategic initiatives highlighted include a proactive approach to potential macroeconomic risks (specifically related to US tariff
cashless
In the current issue of the Nomura Research Institute's "Financial Information Technology Focus", Daisuke Tanaka lays out projections for individual payment instruments through 2030, based on available 2023 data. According to various statistical data, the total amount of cashless payments in 2023 (defined here as the