economics
The SOMPO Institute Plus, the think tank of SOMPO Group, has published its quarterly outlook for the Japanese economy today. The report anticipates a continuation of moderate economic growth, driven by gradually improving real wages and solid corporate performance supporting business investment. However, external demand is expected to remain weak
venture capital
Lazarus AI has successfully secured participation from AllegisNL Capital into its convertible note financing. AllegisNL Capital is a venture capital fund supported by Nippon Life Group, investing in innovative companies at the intersection of technology and insurance or adjacent industries. AllegisNL Capital expects Lazarus AI's technology to further
innovation
SBI Holdings will open the "SBI FinTech Center OSAKA" at the innovation support facility "JAM BASE" in the Umekita district on April 1st. SBI Holdings has been collaborating with Osaka Prefecture and City to realize the International Financial City concept through various initiatives, including: * Providing advisory
reinsurance
This "Standard Formula" podcast episode by Skadden delves into the intricate landscape of prudential insurance regulation in Japan, a topic gaining traction due to its significant impact on the burgeoning reinsurance market. As part of a year-long series exploring global solvency requirements, the discussion is anchored by Japan&
stablecoin
Circle today announced its deepened commitment to Japan by leveraging its Japanese entity, Circle Japan KK, and local partnerships to drive the adoption of Circle platforms and technologies in Japan. Circle’s partners in Japan will leverage Circle’s platforms to enable the adoption of USDC in Japan. These partnerships
weekly
Welcome to the one hundred fourth edition of the Japan FinTech Observer. Happy second birthday to us! What started as a personal effort to keep our fingers on the pulse of the Finance & FinTech ecosystem is now being shared with more than 15,000 subscribers (12,500 on LinkedIn
reinsurance
Fortitude Re (that is, FGH Parent LP together with its subsidiaries) announced the signing and closing of a $4 billion reinsurance transaction between its subsidiary, Fortitude International Reinsurance Company (FIRL) and Taiyo Life Insurance, a wholly owned subsidiary of T&D Holdings. Under the transaction Taiyo Life has reinsured
security token
Mitsui Digital Asset Management (MDM), Shinsei Trust & Banking, SBI Shinsei Bank, and BOOSTRY have collaborated on the public offering of security tokens backed by real estate assets, utilizing the consortium-type blockchain platform "ibet for Fin" developed primarily by BOOSTRY, and have now completed the offering and issuance.
carbon credit
Iyo Bank has collaborated with Green Carbon to support J-Credit utilization in the agricultural sector for Au Nogyo. Au Nogyo has joined the "Rice Cultivation Consortium" operated by Green Carbon, enabling the creation of carbon credits through "extending mid-season drainage in rice cultivation," thereby generating new
crypto
Hong Kong-based RigSec Technology, a leading provider of regulated digital asset wallet solutions, and Tokyo-based Vlightup have begun discussions to collaborate on solving security issues in cryptocurrency wallets. The partnership aims to leverage the technological strengths of both companies to provide a safer and easier-to-use wallet solution. RigSec is a
monetary policy
We always like to listen to the Bank of Japan's press conference after the Monetary Policy Meeting, not so much for the prepared statements, which can be read independently, but for the Q&A session. So here is what we have learned. I. Governor's Prepared
stablecoin
IDA Finance Hong Kong (IDA), a leading digital asset company based in Hong Kong, Progmat, a digital assets platform provider backed by Japan's largest banking groups and technology firms, Datachain, a leading blockchain firm in Japan, and TOKI FZCO (TOKI), a cross-chain infrastructure provider, have announced a strategic