Invesco Asset Management (Japan) has begun offering its suite of U.S. and European-listed Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and related services to the Japanese market. The move follows the firm’s registration as a Type 1 Financial Instruments Business Operator, which became effective April 1, 2026. The expansion allows Invesco to
Digital Garage and its subsidiary, DG Financial Technology (DGFT), have launched new digital wallet functionality integrated into their "Cloud Pay Business" DX solution. Developed in collaboration with group company Pocket Change, the platform aims to unify payments, loyalty programs, and customer management to drive digital transformation (DX) for
Across Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, has announced a strategic alliance with Japanese financial services giant SBI Holdings to launch a new investment vehicle aimed at bridging the gap between U.S. innovation and Japanese industry. The new fund, Across Ventures Fund I, L.P., is targeting a
Plug and Play Japan, the regional arm of the global innovation platform and venture capital firm, has successfully completed the final closing of its debut investment vehicle, "Plug and Play Japan Fund I." Total capital commitments for the fund surpassed its initial targets, reaching over 6 billion yen
Sony Ventures Corporation (SVC), the wholly-owned venture capital arm of Sony Group, has officially commenced operations of its latest investment vehicle, Sony Innovation Fund 4 L.P. The firm confirmed that it has completed the first closing of the fund and began active investment operations as of April 2026. This
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
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
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
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 framework for "Japanese-style
Sony Financial Group’s latest market outlook, released April 9, 2026, suggests that while Japanese Government Bond yields remain on an upward trajectory, the "ultra-long" end of the curve may be nearing a peak. Senior Economist Takayuki Miyajima highlights a complex landscape where Middle East volatility and a
Yayoi, a leading Japanese provider of back-office software, has launched the "Banking Service by Yayoi," a next-generation FinTech platform designed for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and sole proprietors. Developed in partnership with GMO Aozora Net Bank, the service integrates core banking functions directly into Yayoi’s accounting
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.