capital markets
GMO Coin, a consolidated subsidiary of the GMO Internet Group, and BridgeWise, a global provider of investment-focused artificial intelligence, have entered into a long-term strategic partnership. The alliance aims to deliver advanced, AI-driven financial insights tailored specifically for Japanese retail investors. The collaboration marks a significant milestone
capital markets
Japan’s Securities and Exchange Surveillance Commission (SESC) has recommended administrative action against Tokyo-based Moomoo Securities. The recommendation, submitted to the Prime Minister and the Commissioner of the Financial Services Agency (FSA), follows an agency investigation that uncovered severe compliance breaches, misleading retail practices, and systemic operational deficiencies at
digital assets
The structural barriers separating Japan’s traditional financial sector from the global digital asset ecosystem are beginning to dissolve. Digital Asset Markets (DAMS) has officially launched a wholesale cryptocurrency trading service tailored specifically for institutional investors, securities firms, and corporate entities. Operating under tight compliance parameters in light of evolving
venture capital
The digital wealth management sector in Southeast Asia has entered a mature operational phase characterized by a shift from heavily subsidized user-acquisition campaigns to strict unit-economic profitability and capital efficiency. This structural transition is demonstrated by the operational model of Pluang, an Indonesian multi-asset investment platform developed
capital markets
In a global financial landscape increasingly defined by non-linear volatility and the failure of traditional linear models to anticipate market shocks, the strategic partnership between Mitsui Sumitomo Banking Corporation (SMBC) and Toshiba represents a paradigm shift in financial engineering. This collaboration addresses the systemic need for next-generation risk
capital markets
Webull Securities, the Japanese subsidiary of global digital investment platform Webull Corporation (NASDAQ: BULL), has launched two new API integration tools geared toward AI agents and AI coding assistants: “Webull MCP Server” and “Webull Agent Skills.” According to the company, this marks the first time a domestic brokerage in Japan
capital markets
The Japanese ETF market ended a grueling three-quarter streak of net outflows with a commanding recovery. Total net inflows surged past the ¥1 trillion threshold, lifting total assets under management (AUM) to ¥116 trillion—a notable jump from the ¥112 trillion recorded at the end of 2025. This resurgence
tokenization
Progmat, the leader of Japan’s “Digital Asset Co-Creation Consortium” (DCC), has published an interim summary detailing a comprehensive strategy to move traditional securities—including blue-chip stocks and investment trusts—onto blockchain infrastructure. The report, titled "On-chain-ification of All Securities," outlines both a product
broker/dealer
The Japanese brokerage landscape is facing ever tighter competition this spring as major players and nimble FinTechs roll out new features aimed at capturing a broader range of retail and sophisticated investors. From lowering the cost of entry for ETFs to leveraging government digital ID infrastructure for lightning-fast onboarding,
broker/dealer
SBI Securities and Okasan Securities have entered into an absorption-type split agreement. Under the terms of the deal, Okasan Securities will transfer a significant portion of its "Okasan Online" business to SBI Securities, the industry leader. The transfer, scheduled to take effect on October 13, 2026, marks
artificial intelligence
Mizuho Financial Group has successfully developed a proprietary, finance-specific Large Language Model (LLM) capable of delivering highly accurate, sub-second responses without relying on prolonged AI reasoning processes. Crucially, the new model operates entirely within Mizuho’s secure, on-premise network, allowing the bank to process highly confidential data
ai agents
SMBC Nikko Securities has entered into a strategic collaboration with blockchain infrastructure firm Nethermind, aiming to prototype a secure, compliant gateway for Japanese investors to access Decentralized Finance (DeFi) markets, utilizing advanced "agentic AI" to manage trading and risk. The initiative marks a pivotal step for one of