Japan

The World’s Largest Pension Fund from Japan Eyes Bitcoin Diversification

The Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) of Japan, holding the title of the world’s largest pension fund with assets amounting to US$1.5 trillion (227 trillion yen), is broadening its investment strategy to potentially include Bitcoin. This strategic exploration was highlighted

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Wise Secures Type 1 License in Japan, Enabling Higher Transaction Limits

Wise, a global technology company, has been granted a Type 1 Funds Transfer Service Provider license in Japan, becoming one of the first international financial service providers in the country to achieve this status. This license allows Wise Payments Japan

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MUFG Bank Acquires 15.55% Stake in Robo-Advisor WealthNavi for US$104M

MUFG Bank, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, has acquired a 15.55% stake in robo-advisor WealthNavi for approximately 15.65 billion yen (104.15 million), marking a strategic move to bolster its digital financial services. This capital and business alliance aims

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JCB and GLN Enable Korean Code Payments at Smart Code Merchants in Japan

Japanese international payments firm JCB has partnered with GLN to integrate Korean code payment services into Smart Code merchant locations across Japan by the end of the fiscal year 2023. This integration will enable Korean tourists using services such as

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SBI Holdings and Circle to Advance USDC Stablecoin, Web 3.0 Adoption in Japan

Tokyo-based financial institution SBI Holdings has entered into a strategic partnership with Circle Internet Financial, a global fintech firm and sole issuer of USD Coin (USDC). The collaboration, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), aims to facilitate the circulation

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MUFG Taps AWS for Enhanced Efficiency in Cloud-First Strategy

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been selected as the preferred cloud provider by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Japan’s largest financial services provider. This collaboration is part of MUFG’s strategy to adopt a cloud-first approach, utilising AWS’s cloud technologies such

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MUFG Launches Debt Fund for Japanese Investors to Lend to Overseas Startups

MUFG’s subsidiaries have established a debt fund framework for Japanese institutional investors to provide loans to overseas startups. The two subsidiaries are MUFG Bank and Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (MUTB). Japanese institutional investors will be able to participate

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moomoo Kicks off Its Online Brokerage in Japan

Global investment and trading platform moomoo announced the launch of its online brokerage business in Japan on 19 September 2023. Japanese investors can now trade approximately 7,000 US stocks and ETFs on the moomoo platform. They will also be able

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Japan Government Pushes for Fintech Development

Despite having a rich history of financial innovation, Japan has remained a relatively cash-based society, lagging well behind neighbouring countries in the adoption of cashless payments and fintech services. Recognizing the country’s decline in global competitiveness, the government is now

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MUFG Sets up JPY 20 Billion Fund to Support Startups With Innovative Tech

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) and its subsidiary, Mitsubishi UFJ Innovation Partners (MUIP), have established a JPY 20 billion (US$136.4 million) fund to support startups. The fund, called the MUFG Innovation Partners No. 3 Investment Partnership (No. 3 Fund), will

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