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Payment Services/Electronic Money

Leading-edge legal support for the increasingly complex and globalized field of payment transactions

With the globalization of markets and formation of alliances between business operators, the role of financial institutions and credit card companies as payment service providers has increased. These traditional institutions face a remarkable increase in the number of funds transfer service providers, electronic money issuers, payment services providers, bill payment services providers, and other business operators including platform and market place operators who engage in the payment business as their main or ancillary business.

We provide full legal support for payment services that require registration, licensing, or other forms of governmental authorizations. Our legal services in this area include negotiations with the Japanese Financial Services Agency and other supervisory authorities; assistance in the application process; creation and review of internal rules, manuals, and systems; preparation and review of materials for customers; and assistance in responding to governmental inquiries.

We advise payment service providers at the time of their establishment and start of operations and in connection with their day-to-day legal needs. We examine the legality of specific services and the necessity of specific governmental authorizations, and seek confirmation from the regulators as necessary.

We apply our expertise in mergers and acquisitions, corporate work, and other practice areas to assist clients in this industry in the structuring and restructuring of their businesses. We address legal needs from the start to completion of a transaction, including due diligence investigations, anti-competition filings, and other aspects. We have full capabilities to assist business operators to develop more complex and sophisticated payment businesses and to help overseas business operators expand their services into Japan.

We continue to enhance our capabilities to serve our clients, including by developing and utilizing professional relationships with supervisory authorities.

Payment Services/Electronic Money：People

Payment Services/Electronic Money：Newsletters

Jun. 30, 2023 FINANCIAL REGULATION BULLETIN: METI’s Guidance Clarifying the Eligibility for Investment in Securities Tokens by an Investment Limited Partnership
Jun. 30, 2023 PRIVATE EQUITY NEWSLETTER: METI’s Guidance Clarifying the Eligibility for Investment in Securities Tokens by an Investment Limited Partnership
Mar. 17, 2023 TECH, IP AND TELECOMS LAW UPDATES: TECH, IP AND TELECOMS LAW UPDATES Vol.2 March 2023
Mar. 3, 2021 FINANCIAL REGULATION BULLETIN: Fintech Newsletter - Publication of Cabinet Order and Cabinet Office Ordinance on the Revision of the Payment Services Act 2020
Apr. 21, 2017 FINANCIAL REGULATION BULLETIN: Japanese Virtual Currency Regulations take effect in April 2017

Payment Services/Electronic Money：News

Aug. 29, 2024Public Service: The "Guidelines for NFT Businesses 3rd Edition," in which Masafumi Masuda was involved in the formulation as Legal Counsel of the NFT Subcommittee, is released by Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA)
Jul. 10, 2024Public Service: Revised "Guidelines on Blockchain Games," whose formulation included the involvement of Masafumi Masuda, are released by CESA, JOGA, and MCF
Jul. 1, 2024Public Service: Masafumi Masuda becomes a member of the Peer Review Committee for "the Development of Basic Technology and Rules for the Expansion of the Virtual Economy," Strategic Innovation Promotion Program, Cabinet Office
Dec. 20, 2023Awards: Yoshinori Tatsuno listed in "Litigators of Asia 2023" by ALB
Oct. 17, 2023Public Service: Masafumi Masuda becomes a member of the Study Group on the Realisation of a Safe and Secure Metaverse, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications

Payment Services/Electronic Money：Seminars

Jul. 25, 2024External Seminars: "AI and Web3 technologies for building growth and trust"
Mar. 30, 2023External Seminars: "4th Asia-based International Financial Law Conference 'Session two: Fintech’s impact on Asian financial markets I: the regulatory and legislative developments in STO and digital exchanges' "
Nov. 3, 2022External Seminars: "Policy Trend and Current Discussion on Metaverse in Japan"
Sep. 7, 2021External Seminars: "Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) Challenges"
Oct. 19, 2018External Seminars: "Blockchain and its Application to IP Management"

Payment Services/Electronic Money：Publications

Magazine Article: "Metaverse Legal Issues and Policy Trends"
Article: "The Financial Technology Law Review Edition 7 - Japan"
Magazine Article: "Legal Issues Regarding DAO"
Magazine Article: "Regulatory Trends Concerning Stable Coins in the US, UK, Europe, and Singapore"
Magazine Article: "Legal Issues Concerning NFT"