venture capital
UTokyo Innovation Platform (UTokyo IPC) has made a limited partner investment in the “Vertex Ventures Japan Fund I,” managed by Vertex Ventures Japan (VVJ). The investment was made through the Academic Startup Acceleration Fund (ASA Fund), operated by UTokyo IPC with support from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government under its startup
insurtech
Yamada Small Amount and Short-Term Insurance (Yamada SASTI) has implemented the Finatext's SaaS digital insurance system "Inspire" and launched the "Digital Device Expense Compensation Insurance (Pet name: Yamada Comprehensive Lifestyle Insurance)". As digital device prices such as smartphones become increasingly expensive, there is a
sustainability
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank has made an impact equity investment in the "Japan Hydrogen Fund", a fund established by the Japan Hydrogen Association in cooperation with Advantage Partners that specializes in investments in hydrogen-related areas. SuMi TRUST Bank will utilize a capital surplus from April 2022 that was
broker/dealer
The total number of SBI Securities financial product accounts intermediated through Sumitomo Mitsui Card and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation has exceeded 1 million, and the monthly investment amount for "Sumitomo Mitsui Card Regular Investment" has exceeded 85 billion yen. Since June 2021, Sumitomo Mitsui Card has partnered with
capital markets
In order to improve the effectiveness of the market restructuring, the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) has established a Council of Experts, which includes economists, investors, listed companies, academics and other market participants, to continuously follow up on the progress of measures and investor evaluations, and to discuss additional measures regarding
credit card
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank will reorganize its subsidiaries engaged in the credit card business, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Card and Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Club, with the merger of both companies scheduled for October 1, 2025. Trust Club issues cards such as the Diners Club Card, which has many high-income members, while
crypto
Sony Electronics Singapore (SES) and Crypto.com have enabled the acceptance of Circle's USDC, a U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, exclusively on the Sony Store Online in a move to make direct crypto payment accessible to SES’ consumers. The integration of cryptocurrency payments is gaining traction worldwide to appeal
embedded finance
SmartPlus, part of the Finatext Group that realizes embedded finance through the provision of next-generation financial infrastructure, has updated the functions of its securities business platform "BaaS (Brokerage as a Service)" and is now offering bond trading services. Background and Purpose With the recent rise in long-term interest
asset management
Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, Daiwa Securities Group, and Daiwa Institute of Research have entered into a business alliance agreement in the field of asset management and asset administration. By combining the strengths and expertise of both groups, the companies aim to reform the asset management industry
Insurance
Sumitomo Mitsui Card, Sony Life, and Next Solution (Nexsol) have formed a business alliance for collaboration in the insurance sales business through insurance agencies. Sumitomo Mitsui Card and Sony Life will also invest in Nexsol, a multi-carrier insurance agency. Background and Purpose of the Alliance In recent years, changes in
cashless
PayPay Corporation announces that the number of "PayPay" payments in 2024 has exceeded 7.46 billion, accounting for approximately 1 in 5 of the total 38.8 billion cashless payments in Japan. The total number of QR code payments increased by 23% year-on-year to over 11.5 billion,
digital
Digital Garage has integrated three group companies - Naviplus (main business: marketing support for EC businesses), DG Commerce (main business: EC site development), and Scudet (main business: fraud detection and prevention solutions) - and launched a new company, DG Business Technology, to provide comprehensive digital business support. Under the group