Which Countries Run National Digital Currencies?
… and why they have nothing to do with crypto
Japan
Xweave Integrates Solana to Power Real-Time Treasury Stablecoin Settlement Across APAC
Singapore-based crypto and blockchain payments infrastructure platform Xweave has integrated Solana’s settlement layer into its institutional treasury product. The company announced the update at the Point Zero Forum in Zurich on June 24. This move targets one of corporate treasury’s oldest structural problems: the need to pre-fund accounts in multiple jurisdictions just to move money […]
Microsoft Commits $10B to AI and Cybersecurity in Japan: One of Its Largest Bets in Five Years
Microsoft has announced a $10 billion investment in Japan, marking one of the company’s most significant global commitments in recent years and underscoring the intensifying race to build artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity infrastructure at scale.
Iran War Sends Shockwaves Through Global Markets, Then a Relief Rally, What’s Coming Next?
The KOSPI index hit its worst session since 2008. The Nikkei 225 shed 10%. Oil briefly cleared $115. Now, potential ceasefire signals are lifting Asian markets for a while, but investors are far from convinced.
Visa to Anchor PayPay IPO as SoftBank Prepares Nasdaq Debut
Visa is set to play a major role in the forthcoming initial public offering (IPO) of SoftBank-backed payments platform PayPay, joining global investors as an anchor investor ahead of the company’s planned Nasdaq listing. The move underscores Visa’s strategic commitment to expanding its global footprint in digital payments and fintech markets.
AI Meets Finance: Fujitsu Expands Uvance for Finance to Transform Banking and Insurance
Fujitsu Limited has announced a major expansion of its Uvance for Finance offerings, aiming to accelerate digital transformation across the financial services sector. Building on its 2025 financial technology initiatives, Fujitsu’s enhanced portfolio now covers a comprehensive range of services for banking, insurance, securities, credit, and leasing, positioning the company to meet the evolving needs […]
PayPay Files for Nasdaq IPO, Targeting $10B–$19B Valuation in Major Cross-Border Fintech Debut
Japan’s PayPay Corporation has filed for a U.S. IPO on Nasdaq under ticker PAYP, seeking a valuation between $10 billion and $19 billion in one of the largest fintech listings of the year.
UPI Trial in Japan: What to Expect
In FY 2026, the global payments industry will be watching Japan closely. That’s when India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is expected to begin a trial rollout in the country, marking one of the most significant cross-border expansions of the world’s largest real-time payment system.
Citi Strengthens Asia FX Leadership With Strategic Talent Push
The global bank Citi is making a major push, bolstering its foreign exchange (FX) business across Asia with a fresh wave of senior hires and renewed focus on corporate and institutional clients.
Stripe Expands in Japan With Terminal for Unified Commerce
Stripe launched its Terminal service in Japan, complemented by new cellular-enabled readers and integrations with local methods like PayPay and WeChat Pay, to simplify payments and reconciliation across online and in-store channels.
SBI Group Partners Chainlink to Enable APAC Banks Handle Digital Assets
Japanese financial conglomerate SBI Group and blockchain oracle provider Chainlink joined forces to facilitate key crypto and digital asset infrastructure use cases for financial institutions in Japan and the wider APAC region.
China, Japan, South Korea to Jointly Counter US Tariffs
Last Sunday, March 30, China, Japan, and South Korea held their first economic dialogue in five years, reflecting the desire of these Asian countries to facilitate regional trade in preparation for countering the negative impact of tariffs from President of the United States Donald Trump.
Japan’s GDP Beats Forecasts
The Japanese economy in the fourth quarter of 2024 demonstrated such growth rates that exceeded preliminary expectations regarding the degree of intensity of the upward dynamic of this indicator.
Panasonic to Restructure Century-Old Business Focusing on AI
Panasonic plans to restructure its operations to support a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence (AI).
Bank of Japan Raises Interest Rates
On Friday, January 24, the Bank of Japan decided to raise interest rates to the highest level since the global financial crisis of 2008.
Bank of Japan Reportedly to Raise Rates to Highest in 17 Years
The Bank of Japan is expected to decide on raising interest rates on Friday, January 24, if there are no global shocks on the market by then.
