payments
Fujitsu and Mizuho Bank have entered into a strategic collaboration aimed at overhauling the fragmented infrastructure of business-to-business (B2B) transactions in Japan. The partnership seeks to introduce a new order and payment processing service designed to streamline operations for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), aimed at cutting manual administrative workloads
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
digital identity
In a move to fortify digital security and streamline customer experience, two MS&AD Insurance Group subsidiaries—Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance—have adopted the Authlete backend service to implement OpenID Connect (OIDC) across their customer platforms. The deployment, executed by the group’s IT arm
bnpl
Global video game commerce platform Xsolla has moved to strengthen its transactional infrastructure in the Japanese market, announcing a strategic integration with Paidy, the country’s dominant Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) provider. The partnership integrates Paidy directly into Xsolla Pay Station, allowing game developers to offer card-free checkout options
regional bank
In an inspired move, Hyakugo Bank is bringing its personnel system into the 21st century. After the first quarter of said century has already passed, Hyakugo Bank has discovered a fundamental commitment to the people who are the bank's foundation, reshaping how they are supported, developed, and rewarded
prime broker
In a move to modernize Japan’s securities infrastructure, SBI Holdings has announced a strategic partnership with U.S.-based FinTech infrastructure firm Clear Street Group. The agreement includes a $50 million strategic investment by SBI into the New York-based firm and outlines plans to establish a joint venture in
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
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred forty-seventh edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. A unicorn was born through Alpaca's latest funding round. As if we knew this was coming, we are pleased to announce that Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer Hitoshi Harada will join the next Tokyo FinTech Meetup
blockchain
The year 2026 represents a critical inflection point for the Japanese blockchain industry. A clear consensus has emerged among industry leaders and experts: the market is undergoing a decisive shift away from speculative narratives and towards demonstrable utility, comprehensive regulatory integration, and sustainable business models. This transition marks the end
foreign exchange
In a bid to accelerate the shift from savings to assets among Japanese households, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC Group) has announced the immediate launch of a new service allowing individual customers to accumulate foreign currency deposits via credit card payments. This initiative—a collaboration between Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
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,
neobank
Infcurion has announced its formal participation as a design and development partner for "Trunk," a comprehensive digital financial service for corporate clients operated by Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMBC Group). Infcurion is integrating new functionality into the platform that leverages its proprietary "Winvoice" infrastructure. This integration