payments
Filipino travelers to Japan can now enjoy expanded cashless payment options at over 3 million merchants, thanks to a new collaboration between GCash, Alipay+, and PayPay. This partnership allows GCash users to seamlessly pay via QR code at a wide range of businesses, from bustling city centers like Tokyo and
weekly
Welcome to the ninety-fourth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. We apologize for the tardiness of this week's newsletter. Let's just say the editorial team has been...decimated. Not by alien invaders (though with this cough, I wouldn't rule it out), but by a
CBDC
Waseda University released the fifth episode of its English language podcast series “Rigorous Research, Real Impact”, covering “Central Bank Digital Currencies from a Japanese Legal Perspective”. In the following, we have summarized Professor Takashi Kubota's insights on Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), focusing on the legal implications and
weekly
Happy new year, and welcome to the ninety-third edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. With January 6 being the first trading day of the year, and also the first workday for many, the past week surely has been quiet. Still, the narrative for the next Bank of Japan Monetary Policy
cashless
The Regulatory Reform Promotion Council held its 22nd session on December 25, 2024, and was reviewing its comprehensive interim report, which also included measures to simplify the rules for digital wage payments in order to promote a cashless society. Detailed discussion are to commence in the first half of FY2025,
payments
On December 24, 2024, the 7th meeting of the Financial System Council's Working Group on Payment Services was held, reviewing a draft of the working group's report to be published in 2025. As background, the "Grand Design and Action Plan for New Capitalism" (Cabinet
weekly
Welcome to the ninety-first edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. The Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan meetings dominated this week. With the former a little more hawkish, and the latter a little more dovish than expected, the Japanese Yen has found itself close to the 160 JPY/USD territory
CBDC
The second CBDC liaison meeting between the Bank of Japan and related ministries was held on December 2, 2024. The discussion focused on Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) data handling, privacy, and utilization.
japan
Binance Japan hosted a press briefing today, with CEO Takeshi Chino reviewing the overall market in 2024, as well as Binance Japan accomplishments, and providing an outlook into the next year. Key Market Shift in 2024: Institutional Adoption The most significant development in 2024, according to Chino, has been the
japan
Digital Garage has launched "CurePort," an online payment service optimized for the medical industry, in joint operation with Resona. This initiative is based on the capital and business alliance between Digital Garage and Resona HD. Resona Group banks including Resona Bank, Saitama Resona Bank, and Kansai Mirai Bank
japan
Welcome to the ninetieth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Nippon Life owned this week, like hardly any other Japanese company has owned the headlines in recent memory. The deal to acquire 20% of Corebridge, the AIG spinout, announced seven months ago, closed this week (< USD 4bn). Nippon Life
japan
JR East will progressively upgrade Suica's functionality over the next 10 years, transforming it into a digital platform as part of its mid-to-long-term business growth strategy, "Beyond the Border." Suica will evolve from a simple "travel device" to a "lifestyle device", seamlessly