BNB News Today: PayPay and Binance Japan Merge Cashless, Crypto to Fuel Japan's Digital Finance Revolution

SoftBank Group's PayPay has acquired a 40% equity stake in Binance Japan, marking a strategic partnership to integrate cashless payments with cryptocurrency services. The collaboration aims to leverage PayPay's 70 million users and its extensive merchant network with Binance Japan's blockchain infrastructure, enabling users to buy, sell, and store digital assets through PayPay Money, a smartphone-based digital wallet. This move aligns with Japan's growing adoption of cryptocurrencies, where publicly traded companies increasingly hold Bitcoin treasuries.

The partnership will allow PayPay Money users to seamlessly transact with cryptocurrencies, starting with the integration of crypto purchase and withdrawal features. By combining PayPay's user scale with Binance's technology, the companies aim to make Web3 services more accessible to Japanese consumers. Takeshi Chino, General Manager of Binance Japan, emphasized that this alliance represents a significant step toward the future of digital finance in Japan, enabling secure, seamless crypto services.

PayPay's investment underscores its evolution from a cashless payment platform to a broader digital financial ecosystem. The company reported processing 380 million remittances in 2024, a 36% increase from 2023, highlighting its dominance in Japan's cashless market. With PayPay's 70 million users and Binance Japan's regulatory compliance under Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA), the partnership positions itself as a trusted player in the nation's crypto sector.

Binance Japan, rebranded in 2024 after acquiring Sakura Exchange BitCoin (SEBC), has been expanding under Japan's stringent regulatory framework. The PayPay stake provides Binance Japan with a distribution channel to reach a broader retail audience, while PayPay gains access to Binance's global crypto expertise. Analysts suggest the alliance could catalyze similar collaborations between Japanese fintech firms and international crypto exchanges, reshaping the country's financial landscape.

The timing of the partnership coincides with a surge in Binance's native token, BNB, which has risen to $1,300 and a market capitalization of $182 billion in early October 2025. This growth, driven by BNB Chain's ecosystem expansion and institutional interest, positions Binance Japan's integration with PayPay as a strategic move to capitalize on Japan's crypto momentum. PayPay's CEO, Masayoshi Yanase, stated that the investment will provide Binance users with secure, convenient solutions and contribute to Japan's financial infrastructure development.

SoftBank's broader digital finance strategy includes PayPay's potential U.S. listing, filed in August 2025, and its expansion into South Korea. The company aims to scale its global operations while maintaining compliance with evolving regulations. The PayPay-Binance Japan alliance reflects SoftBank's commitment to cementing its role in Japan's cashless economy and digital finance sector.

The partnership also aligns with Japan's government initiatives to increase cashless transactions, which reached 42.8% in 2024, exceeding the 40% target set by 2025. With PayPay accounting for 64% of QR code payments in 2024, the integration of crypto services could further accelerate Japan's transition to a digital economy.

[1] CoinDesk (https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/10/09/softbank-s-paypay-buys-40-stake-in-binance-japan-to-fuse-crypto-with-cashless-payments)

[2] Cointelegraph (https://cointelegraph.com/news/softbank-s-paypay-acquires-40-stake-in-binance-japan)

[4] FinanceFeeds (https://financefeeds.com/paypay-acquires-40-stake-in-binance-japan-forming-strategic-alliance/)

[7] Finextra (https://www.finextra.com/the-long-read/1422/what-softbanks-paypay-ipo-float-means-for-embedded-finance-in-japan)

[8] TransFi (https://www.transfi.com/blog/japans-cashless-push-credit-cards-paypay-and-cbdc-trials)

[9] Coinotag (https://en.coinotag.com/paypays-40-stake-in-binance-japan-may-enable-bnb-purchases-through-paypay-money/)