Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred fifty-ninth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. This week, we are excited to have new subscribers join us from the Korea Investment Corporation, the Central Bank of Ireland, the University of York, and a fellow whose wife left him after reading NIST SP 800-207, among
tokenization
SBI Ripple Asia has completed the development of a blockchain-based token issuance platform and has officially registered as a "Third-Party Prepaid Payment Instrument Issuer." The registration, finalized on March 26, 2026, marks a significant step in the company’s efforts to integrate public blockchain technology with Japan’s
payments
Digital Garage (TSE Prime: 4819), a leading Japanese payment and marketing group, has launched “FT MediaString,” an AI-driven advertising business designed to integrate proprietary FinTech data with premium media inventory. The initiative, spearheaded by subsidiary BI.Garage, enters the market as the digital advertising industry faces mounting challenges in the
payments
PayPal and Tokyo-based SP.LINKS have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a strategic collaboration aimed at enhancing digital commerce within the Japanese market. The partnership is designed to leverage PayPal’s global payment scale alongside SP.LINKS’ localized infrastructure, particularly within the high-growth gaming and entertainment sectors.
payments
Netstars, a leading provider of multi-cashless payment solutions, has launched "StarPay-X," a gateway concept designed to bridge the gap between traditional Web2 payment infrastructure and the emerging Web3 financial ecosystem. The initiative represents a critical step for Netstars as it seeks to transition from a QR-code payment aggregator
payments
PayCloud Holdings (TSE Growth: 4015), through its wholly-owned subsidiary Value Design, has launched “Omairi Pay,” a bespoke cashless payment platform developed in collaboration with the Kyoto Buddhist Association. The service is specifically engineered to facilitate digital transactions within temples and shrines while navigating the unique legal and ethical requirements of
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred fifty-eighth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. This week, we are excited to have new subscribers join us from the NYSE, ICICI Bank, Wallester, the Bank of Uganda, and JCB／株式会社ジェーシービー, among others 🙏 Headlines this week belong to SMBC Group, which begins a new Medium-Term
cashless
Japan’s march toward a cashless society reached a significant milestone in 2025, with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) reporting that cashless payments now account for 58.0% of total consumer spending. Total transaction value hit a record 162.7 trillion yen, fueled by a diversifying landscape
loyalty
SMBC Group and its subsidiary, Sumitomo Mitsui Card Company (SMCC), have officially completed the consolidation of V Point Marketing, taking control of one of the leading players in Japan’s competitive loyalty program and data marketing landscape. The move follows a strategic agreement first announced in October 2025. Effective March
payments
DG Financial Technology (DGFT) has officially launched a strategic initiative to bolster South Korean cross-border e-commerce (EC) by providing critical payment infrastructure for merchants targeting the Japanese market. Through a partnership with Eximbay, a leading South Korean global payment service provider, DGFT will now offer PayPay’s online payment services
Weekly
Welcome to the fourth year, and the one hundred fifty-seventh edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. This week, we are excited to have new subscribers join us from Mitsui & Co., Ltd., SBI Digital Markets, Cherubic Ventures, Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking - SGCIB, and Visa, among others 🙏 With
Weekly
Welcome to the one hundred fifty-sixth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. This week, we are excited to have new subscribers join us from Mastercard and BVNK (congratulations on tying the knot!), Dealroom.co, the IFC - International Finance Corporation, and TerraPay, among others 🙏 This edition also marks our three