SoftBank is deepening its presence in Japan’s crypto market through PayPay, its digital payments provider, which has agreed to acquire a 40% stake in Binance Japan. Together they plan to let PayPay users fund crypto purchases directly through their accounts, positioning exchange access inside a mainstream consumer app.
The timing reflects rapid growth in Japan’s digital asset market. The reported transaction value in the country roughly doubled in the first seven months of the year, drawing increased interest from large financial institutions that are building or expanding local offerings.
SoftBank’s Security Focus with Previous Investment in CertiK
SoftBank’s consumer-facing efforts are supported by its previous investment in Web3 security. Vision Fund 2 invested $60 million in CertiK, the leader in blockchain and Web3 security. This investment supports CertiK’s efforts to build a trust layer intended to make Web3 infrastructure safer and more reliable for projects and users via its Skynet Platform.
Additional Strategic Web3 Investments
The Binance Japan deal follows a pattern of other targeted investments across the Web3 stack. Earlier this year, SoftBank invested $50 million in Cipher Mining to help the company build high-performance computing data centers, linking crypto infrastructure with growing AI demand. It previously led an investment in The Sandbox, a decentralized gaming platform that reflects a view on user-owned digital assets and virtual IP. It had also made an investment in Aleo, a blockchain based on zero-knowledge proofs, signaling a thesis that privacy will be a core feature of future web applications.
SoftBank Enabling the Future of Web3 in Japan
SoftBank’s stake in Binance Japan underscores a focus on compliant, accessible Web3 services for consumers. Paired with its previous investment in CertiK, the strategy has a clear goal: to build the distribution, trust, and infrastructure required for open, consumer-grade financial applications. These moves position the PayPay–Binance Japan partnership as a bridge between regulated payment rails and Web3 market access.
