PayPay acquires 40% of Binance Japan to integrate crypto services
SoftBank-owned PayPay has purchased a 40% stake in Binance Japan. The two companies plan to combine Binance’s blockchain infrastructure with PayPay’s 70 million-user base to advance crypto-finance in Japan.
PayPay, Japan’s biggest cashless payments app, has acquired a 40% stake in Binance Japan, the local arm of the world’s largest crypto exchange.
The partnership will roll out joint services that let users trade digital assets directly within PayPay. Customers will be able to buy crypto using PayPay Money and make withdrawals through the same system, folding Binance’s infrastructure into Japan’s most widely used mobile payment platform.
According to Takeshi Chino, head of Binance Japan, the integration between the two ecosystems will create “a direct bridge between fiat and digital assets,” making Web3 services more accessible to the general public.
The deal reflects SoftBank’s renewed strategy to expand its presence in digital finance as Japan relaxes crypto regulations. Authorities are preparing legislation that would grant crypto assets the status of financial products, while major Japanese firms such as Nomura and Rakuten are already developing their own crypto platforms.
Binance Japan, licensed by the Kanto Local Finance Bureau, has been operating since 2023, offering spot trading and earn products. With PayPay’s support, the exchange plans to expand into tokenized assets and micropayments for e-commerce.
The integration is also expected to accelerate Japan’s cashless economy: PayPay already plays a key role in reducing the country’s reliance on cash through cashback programs and partnerships with major retail networks.
The deal reflects SoftBank’s renewed strategy to expand its presence in digital finance as Japan relaxes crypto regulations. Authorities are preparing legislation that would grant crypto assets the status of financial products, while major Japanese firms such as Nomura and Rakuten are already developing their own crypto platforms.
Binance Japan, licensed by the Kanto Local Finance Bureau, has been operating since 2023, offering spot trading and earn products. With PayPay’s support, the exchange plans to expand into tokenized assets and micropayments for e-commerce.
The integration is also expected to accelerate Japan’s cashless economy: PayPay already plays a key role in reducing the country’s reliance on cash through cashback programs and partnerships with major retail networks.
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