SoftBank and PayPay Acquire 40% of Binance Japan, Bringing Crypto to 70 Million Users

TLDR

Table of Contents

SoftBank-backed PayPay purchased a 40% equity stake in Binance Japan in September 2025
The partnership will allow Binance Japan users to buy and sell crypto using PayPay Money directly in the app
PayPay has 70 million users in Japan and processed 380 million remittances in 2024
Binance Japan is a registered crypto exchange operating under Kanto Local Finance Bureau licensing
PayPay filed for a US stock exchange listing in August 2025

SoftBank-backed PayPay has acquired a 40% equity stake in Binance Japan. The deal makes Binance Japan an equity-method affiliate of PayPay as of September 2025.

Softbank & PayPay invests 40% in Binance Japanhttps://t.co/To6pnzeTfm
— CZ 🔶 BNB (@cz_binance) October 9, 2025

The partnership will let Binance Japan users trade crypto assets using PayPay Money. Users can buy crypto with PayPay Money inside the Binance Japan app. They can also withdraw funds to PayPay Money when selling assets.

PayPay operates as one of Japan’s largest mobile payment platforms. The service launched in 2018 and reached 70 million users in July 2025. In 2024, PayPay processed 380 million remittances, up 36% from 280 million in 2023.

Binance Japan runs as a registered crypto asset exchange. The platform received licensing from the Kanto Local Finance Bureau. It has offered spot trading and earn products since August 2023.

The companies plan to develop products that combine PayPay’s payment system with Binance’s blockchain technology. The goal is to create direct connections between fiat currency and crypto assets.

Regulatory Framework and Market Position

Japan requires crypto exchanges to operate under strict licensing rules. Binance Japan operates within these requirements. The PayPay investment shows how mainstream payment companies can partner with licensed crypto platforms.

PayPay corporate officer Masayoshi Yanase explained the strategy. “By investing in Binance Japan, which is a part of Binance, the world’s largest digital asset exchange by trading volume, we will provide Binance users with solutions that combine the convenience and security of PayPay,” he said.

The integration aims to reduce barriers for users. People can fund trades using their existing PayPay Money balance. They avoid creating new bank connections or payment accounts.

Web3 Accessibility Goals

Takeshi Chino serves as general manager for Binance Japan. He described the partnership’s purpose. “By combining PayPay’s extensive user scale with Binance’s innovative technology, we will be able to make Web3 more accessible to people across the country and deliver secure, seamless digital assets services,” Chino said.

The PayPay Money integration currently stands as the main product focus. Binance Japan previously only accepted Japanese yen through bank transfers. PayPay Money adds a new deposit and withdrawal method.

The partnership creates two-way movement between fiat and crypto. Users can move funds faster for trading. Cash-out options become simpler after selling assets.

PayPay has expanded beyond Japan recently. The company launched its payment service in South Korea in September 2025. In August 2025, PayPay filed confidentially with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to list American depositary shares on a US stock exchange. The timing, size and price remain undetermined and subject to market conditions.

BNB, the native token of Binance’s BNB Chain, has risen in value recently. The token traded around $1,300 on October 9, 2025, with a market cap of about $182 billion. BNB gained 26% over the previous seven days and ranks third among cryptocurrencies by market capitalization.

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