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
venture capital
Government-backed Japan Investment Corporation (JIC) has announced major limited partner (LP) fund commitments totaling over $75 million aimed at bridging Japan's domestic startup ecosystem with international VC networks and fueling early-stage innovation. Linking Domestic Startups to Silicon Valley Capital JIC has committed $50 million as an
payments
Blockchain infrastructure provider HashPort has entered into a partnership with Moact, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kansai Electric Power, to allow users of Moact’s social contribution app to exchange earned loyalty points for JPYC, a Japanese yen-denominated stablecoin. Users who complete social action "missions" on the
banking
Wakkanai Shinkin Bank will issue ¥20 billion ($130M+) in preferred subscription certificates to strengthen its financial foundation. The entire capital injection will be underwritten by Shinkin Central Bank through an industry management enhancement program. The move follows recent media reports regarding the regional bank's balance sheet, which has
banking
Tokyo-based holding company Gojo & Company has entered into a definitive share purchase agreement to acquire a controlling 99.9% stake in Cambodia’s Chamroeun Microfinance. The transaction, which will make Chamroeun a consolidated subsidiary, remains subject to regulatory approvals. Gojo will acquire the additional shares from PHALs and
payments
On July 31, 2026, PayPay Corporation, SoftBank, LY Corporation, and Seven & i Holdings announced a landmark multi-party alliance, signaling a massive consolidation in the face of Japan’s intensifying "Points Wars." This strategic maneuver aims to eliminate the friction between digital payment ecosystems and brick-and-
asset management
Online brokerage firm Bloomo Securities has launched a new wealth management service, targeting wealthy individuals and pre-retirees in Japan seeking comprehensive, long-term asset management options amid ongoing inflation and yen depreciation. The firm introduced two distinct service tiers based on customer needs and asset sizes: * Advisor Course: Designed
asset management
SBI Holdings has announced that its consolidated subsidiary, FOLIO Holdings, has formally applied for an initial public offering (IPO) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE). FOLIO Holdings, in which SBI Group holds a 69.42% controlling stake, develops AI-driven asset management systems and financial infrastructure solutions. The Tokyo-based
digital assets
The successful completion of the "FinTech Proof-of-Concept (PoC) Hub" Experiment No. 13 represents a significant step forward in Japan’s oversight of the digital asset ecosystem. Backed by the Financial Services Agency (FSA), this initiative confronts the systemic risk of blockchain anonymity—the fundamental inability to
banking
The history of ITFOR (4743.T) is essentially a chronicle of the Japanese technology sector’s transition from hardware-led social infrastructure to high-margin software. Founded in 1972 as CJK—a trading entity specializing in the importation of sophisticated American and Israeli communications hardware—the company’s identity was
venture capital
Japanese telecommunications giant KDDI Corporation and the Google AI Futures Fund have entered into an agreement to launch the "AI Startup Support Program by KDDI & Google AI Futures Fund," a joint initiative aimed at investing in domestic artificial intelligence startups and facilitating their global expansion. Applications for
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