artificial intelligence
Sakana AI will partner with Daiwa Securities in its first alliance with a securities firm. This collaboration brings together Daiwa Securities Group’s deep industry knowledge with Sakana AI’s cutting-edge AI technology. Daiwa has long focused on a client-first approach to asset management, looking at a customer’s total
fintech
UNLEASH Capital Partners, a venture capital fund management company dedicated to driving financial inclusion, has announced the final close of its first fund at INR 300 crores (approximately USD 33 million), which was oversubscribed against the initial target. The fund, co-general partnered by Natsuki Sugai and Gojo & Company, is
payments
SBI Ripple Asia has signed a basic agreement with Tobu Top Tours to realize a new payment platform centered on proprietary tokens issued by SBI Ripple Asia for each partner company and organization. Through this initiative, SBI Ripple Asia will integrate NFTs planned and operated by Tobu Top Tours with
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred thirty-first edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We tried to have the publication of our weekly report co-incide with quarter-end (at least that is this week's excuse), and follow the first two trading days of the spun-out Sony Financial. After an indicative price
private equity
SBI Securities, Shinsei Trust & Banking, Tokio Marine Asset Management, and BOOSTRY have jointly developed Japan's first public offering scheme for security tokens of specified beneficial interest-issuing trusts that realize PE investment, and will collaborate on its public offering. Expansion of the PE Market In recent years, asset
artificial intelligence
Tokio Marine Holdings (TMHD) has initiated a strategic collaboration with OpenAI, aiming to leverage generative AI technologies for the evolution of its business. TMHD aims to further integrate generative AI into various operational areas of Tokio Marine group, including contracts, inquiries, and document processing. This will help to enhance productivity
mergers & acquisitions
Seven Bank is entering into a capital and business alliance with ITOCHU to adapt to a changing financial landscape (digital payments, new competition) and drive new growth. The goal is to combine Seven Bank's expertise in ATMs and retail financial services with ITOCHU's vast consumer-related business
fintech
Heiwa Real Estate will open FinGATE SAPPORO in IKEUCHI LAB, the first FinGATE facility in Sapporo, on Monday, October 20, 2025. At FinGATE SAPPORO in IKEUCHI LAB, Heiwa Real Estate will draw on the financial hub operational experience and knowhow it has cultivated since 2017 in the Nihonbashi Kabutocho and
carbon
ASUENE has completed an equity transfer of a 49% stake in ASUENE America Holdings to the Fund Corporation for the Overseas Development of Japan’s ICT and Postal Services (JICT), officially launching a new co-investment partnership. This initiative is designed to support the global growth of startups through a public-private
blockchain
Nonagon Capital, a venture fund that invests in cryptocurrency and blockchain startups, announces the launch of support services for major domestic companies to begin validator operations, in addition to operating its own blockchain validators. Background For approximately three years, Nonagon Capital has been conducting investment activities. During this time, the
securities
Rakuten Bank's and Rakuten Securities' Money Bridge service, connecting customers’ Rakuten Bank and Rakuten Securities accounts, has surpassed 6 million accounts as of September 2025. Rakuten Bank and Rakuten Securities began offering Money Bridge to improve the convenience of services for private asset building and management. Anyone
banking
SBI Sumishin Net Bank will become a consolidated subsidiary of NTT DOCOMO as of October 1st, 2025. Following the consolidation, starting on the same date, the service will be rebranded as “d NEOBANK”, which is representing the wide range of services directly provided by SSNB to both individual and corporate