Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 5h

Japan's three megabanks are planning to jointly issue corporate-use stablecoins using a system developed by Tokyo-based fintech firm Progmat.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/the-go-net-l...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 21h

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government, through EY as the contractor, will provide a support program to the 15 selected businesses listed below, in Japan and from overseas in order to help them brush up their work for the purpose of commercialization.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/first-round-...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 22h

PayPay Corporation has launched "PayPay Gift," which allows users to send digital gift certificates to friends and family for use at partner stores.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/paypay-launc...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 22h

In a major move signaling rising credit costs in the Japanese market, Rakuten Group successfully priced a JPY 82 billion perpetual subordinated bond.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/rakuten-secu...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 1d

Money Forward's Q3: A Strategic Pivot Masks Underlying Weakness in Core Business

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/money-forwar...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 2d

In a significant signal that global financial giants are eager to establish regulated footing in the U.S. digital asset market, Sony Bank has formally applied to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish a national trust bank.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/sony-bank-ma...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 3d

The FSB has published its 100+ page "Thematic Review on FSB Global Regulatory Framework for Crypto-asset Activities," from which we have extracted all information related to Crypto-Asset Activities and Global Stablecoin Arrangements in Japan.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/fsb-global-r...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 4d

NTT Data has signed a MoU with NPCI International Payments Limited. The MoU establishes the foundation to enable acceptance of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) for Indian tourists in Japan.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/ntt-data-sig...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 4d

Sony Financial Ventures and Global Brain Corporation have established a new joint venture company through a co-investment.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/sony-financi...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 6d

The Japan FinTech Observer for the week ending October 12, 2025 - Cutting through the noise in Japanese Finance & FinTech

Read it here: www.fintechobserver.com/japan-fintec...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 7d

Happy Fourth Year Anniversary, Nudge!

Nudge has developed and operates a next-generation credit card that combines the security, safety, and convenience of financial services with highly entertaining experience design.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/happy-fourth...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 7d

Infcurion, which will go public on the Growth Segment of the Tokyo Stock Exchange on October 24, 2025, has started offering the latest version of its next-generation card platform "Xard (Exard)".

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/infcurion-la...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 7d

Japan's food self-sufficiency rate on a calorie basis remained unchanged from the previous year at 38% for fiscal year 2024, tying the second-lowest figure on record.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/a-matter-of-...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 7d

Soramitsu has launched consulting and development support services for domestic Japanese business operators to develop stablecoin issuance systems in compliance with the Payment Services Act and other regulations.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/soramitsu-be...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 9d

This presentation details the successful project by Chiba Bank, one of Japan's largest regional banks, which has embarked on an ambitious digital transformation (DX) initiative aimed at delivering the "Ultimate Customer Experience."

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/chib/

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 10d

Laser Digital, the digital asset subsidiary of Nomura Group, and Solidus Labs, the category-definer for crypto-native trade surveillance and risk monitoring, have announced a partnership to deliver crypto-native on-chain and off-chain market surveillance.

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 10d

MUFG to Issue Public Offering Digital Unsecured Subordinated Bond as a Security Token Via Progmat

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/mufg-to-issu...

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Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 11d

PayPay Takes a 40% Stake in Binance Japan

Binance Japan has entered into a capital and business alliance agreement with PayPay, a cashless payment service provider. Through this partnership, PayPay has acquired a 40% stake in Binance Japan.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/paypay-takes...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 12d

The Cabinet Office has announced the selection of prospective awardees of partner entities that will play a key role in supporting the implementation of the Global Startup Campus (GSC) Initiative Pilot Activities.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/selection-of...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 12d

Raise Financial Services, the innovative fintech company behind the popular stock trading and investing platform Dhan, has successfully concluded a significant Series B funding round, raising an impressive $120 million.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/mufg-partici...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 13d

The Japan FinTech Observer for the week ending October 5, 2025 - Cutting through the noise in Japanese Finance & FinTech 🇯🇵

Read it here: www.fintechobserver.com/japan-fintec...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 13d

The DCC has unveiled a detailed blueprint for launching a fully on-chain settled, tokenized Money Market Fund (MMF), aiming to bridge Japan's established financial markets with the rapidly expanding global digital asset ecosystem.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/the-dccs-rep...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 13d

Gumi has signaled one of the most decisive strategic shifts in its history. The company last week announced a landmark capital raise of approximately ¥5.7 billion through the issuance of stock acquisition rights.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/gumis-y-5-7-...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 14d

This presentation from the Snowflake World Tour details a successful project by Japan Post (Kampo) Life Insurance, one of Japan's largest life insurers, to overhaul its data analytics infrastructure using Snowflake.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/japan-post-i...

Norbert Gehrke @norbertgehrke.bsky.social · 15d

Athene, the leading retirement services company and subsidiary of Apollo Global Management, has announced that it intends to enter a block reinsurance transaction with Sony Life Insurance, a top-rated Japanese insurer.

Read more: www.fintechobserver.com/athene-annou...