PayPay Corporation is pleased to announce that the number of registered users*1 of its cashless payment service “PayPay” surpassed 50 million (as of August 18, 2022) in a short period of 3 years and 10 months since the service was launched in October 2018. This means that approximately one in 2.5*2 people of Japan’s population use the service, which is continuing to develop as a social infrastructure to handle payments. PayPay plans to host a campaign to commemorate the number of users exceeding 50 million. The details will be announced on the campaign page at a later date.
*1. Total number of users who have registered for an account as of August 2022.
*2. Calculated by PayPay Corporation based on “Population Projections – June 2022 Report” published by the Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Since its launch, PayPay has been committed to being “user first” and operating with speed. Through approximately 50 application updates per year, PayPay has been able to quickly shape customer requests and pursue users’ convenience. “PayPay” was initially launched as an app specializing in payments. It has since evolved into a super app that offers a wide range of services, including financial services such as asset management, insurance, and credit card loans, as well as shopping, movie reservations, and food delivery services, enriching and adding convenience to users’ lives. In addition to the PayPay app’s ease of use, steady sales efforts led by 22 sales offices nationwide have expanded the number of merchant locations to 3.74 million*3, and customers recognize that “PayPay” can be used for a wide range of services, including physical stores and online services. Moreover, PayPay’s unique high-impact marketing efforts, such as the “10 Billion Yen Giveaway Campaign” held in December 2018, large-scale campaigns such as the “Cho PayPay Matsuri (Super PayPay Festival),” and the “Support Your Town Project” conducted in cooperation with local governments, have also contributed to the expansion of its user base.
PayPay now ranks No. 1*4 in the domestic share of the QR code payment market, accounting for approximately two-thirds of the total transaction volume and number of payments, owing to PayPay’s strengths in its product, sales, and marketing. As the largest QR code payment service provider, PayPay is fully aware of its responsibility as a company providing a social infrastructure, and is focusing on strengthening security and providing constant, stable services.
In addition, amid recent national efforts to promote cashless payments, the second round of the Myna Points Project has started for My Number Card-holders to receive up to 20,000 yen worth of points through cashless payment services. Even those who registered for other cashless payment services when acquiring a new My Number Card can register for “PayPay*5” by changing their payment service providers when applying for the card’s use as a health insurance card and when registering an account to receive public funds. Therefore, the number of registrations is increasing at a faster pace than in the first round of the Myna Points Project. As a result, the number of people who selected “PayPay” for registering their Myna Points is now about 9 million, and the total amount of points granted is approximately 100 billion yen*6. Further, amongst a variety of cashless services available, “PayPay” won the No. 1 position*7 in terms of the number of registered users in the second round of the Myna Points Project, following its win for the first place title in the first round of the campaign.
■ Survey results on Myna Point usage published in August 2022 (by ICT Research & Consulting Inc.)
PayPay will continue to offer the convenience of cashless payments to users as well as all kinds of retailers and service providers, with the goal of creating a world in which a safe cashless shopping experience can be enjoyed anywhere in Japan. “PayPay” will continue on the path to evolve from a “payment app” into a “super app” that will make users’ lives richer and more convenient, fostering a culture of “Anytime, Anywhere with PayPay.”
*3. Total number of locations registered with “PayPay,” including stores and taxis, as of June 2022.
*4. Ratio calculated by PayPay Corporation from the “PayPay” data on disclosed material by Payments Japan Association (Results of Survey on QR Code Payment Usage Trends in Japan in FY2021).
*5. If users have registered for a new My Number Card before June 30, 2022.
*6. As of August 18, 2022, the number of registered users is counted as “one” even if the person who registered for “PayPay” when acquiring a My Number Card also applied for its use as a health insurance card and registered an account to receive public funds.
*7. Survey data on the usage of Myna Points by ICT Research & Consulting Inc.(Survey on the usage status of Myna Points, August 2020, n=10,708, survey period: August 19-20, 2020), (Survey on the usage status of Myna Points, August 2022, n=6,006, survey period: July 29-August 1, 2022, conducted by ICT Research & Consulting Inc.)
■ About “PayPay,” the cashless payment service provided by PayPay Corporation
PayPay is a cashless payment service expanding across the country, available not only at major chain stores but also at small and medium size retailers, vending machines, taxis and even public transportation. It can also be used in a variety of other scenes, including paying for online services and utility bills. PayPay is also expanding its range of services beyond just payments, including a “send/receive” feature (remittance/transfer and receiving of money) that allows users to transfer their PayPay Balance (PayPay Money and PayPay Money Lite) between each other for free, or “point management,” a service that allows users access to a simulated investment experience involving the exchange of PayPay Points with points provided by Service Providers that PayPay is partnered with. The company also strives to create a safe and convenient environment for users through a hotline available 24/7 and a full compensation scheme ensuring, compensation for any damages that may be suffered.
PayPay is registered as follows:
・Prepaid Payment Instruments (third party type) Issuer, Registration #: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau, No. 00710 (Registration date: October 5, 2018)
・Fund Transfer Operator, Registration #: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau, No. 00068 (Registration date: September 25, 2019)
・Japan Payment Service Association (https://www.s-kessai.jp/, Date of admission: September 12, 2018)
Business Operator that Concludes Contracts on the Handling of Credit Card Numbers, etc., Registration #: Kanto (K) No. 106 (Registration date: July 1, 2019)
・Japan Consumer Credit Association (https://www.j-credit.or.jp/, Date of admission: July 1, 2019)
・Telecommunications Carrier (Filing #: A-02-17943 / Date filed: July 2, 2019)
Notified Person Entrusted with Intermediation (Filing #: C1907980 / Date filed: December 18, 2019)
・Bank Agency Operator, License: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau, No. 396 (Registration date: November 26, 2020)
・Financial instruments intermediary service registration number: Kanto Finance Bureau Director (Kinchu) No. 942 (Registration date: June 25, 2021)
* “PayPay” provides 4 types of PayPay balance: PayPay Money, PayPay Money Lite, PayPay Points and PayPay Bonus Lite. PayPay Money can be used to pay for partner services and merchants if it is within the amount deposited into the PayPay account opened after completing an identity verification process. It can also be used for sending and receiving money between PayPay users free of charge. PayPay Money can also be cashed out to a designated bank account (no withdrawal fee if using PayPay Bank). The legal nature of this is an electromagnetic record which can be used to pay for goods and other services, and can be remitted or cashed out, issued by the Company who is a Fund Transfer Operator registered under Article 37 of the Payment Services Act. Based on the provisions of Article 43 of the Payment Services Act, PayPay preserves the debt it owes to its users in full amount and more by depositing its assets. PayPay Money Lite is an electronic money issued by PayPay, which can be purchased and used to pay for services and merchants. PayPay users can transfer and receive PayPay Money Lite free of charge. The legal nature of this is a prepaid payment instrument issued by PayPay (Article 3, Paragraph 1 of the Payment Services Act). Based on the provisions of Article 14 of the Payment Services Act, PayPay preserves the relevant assets for the purpose of protecting the owners of the prepaid payment instrument by providing a security deposit for issuance to the Legal Affairs Bureau in an amount that is half or more of the unused balance of prepaid instrument methods as of March 31 and September 30. In addition, PayPay Points and PayPay Bonus Lite, which are granted through campaigns and promotions when using PayPay, can be used for partner services and merchants in addition to PayPay Money and PayPay Money Lite. However, PayPay Bonus and PayPay Bonus Lite cannot be sent or transferred between PayPay users or be cashed out. PayPay Bonus Lite has an expiration date, after which date it will no longer be valid.
PayPay also strives to create a safe and secure environment for users. If an unexpected payment is made by a third party using a PayPay account, or if a request to settle a payment suddenly arrives from PayPay to a user that does not have a PayPay account, there is a scheme that ensures compensation for the damages suffered (the difference will be provided as compensation if compensation is also provided by a third party), given that the prescribed conditions are met. Please see applying for compensation for details.
*Company names, trade names, and products/services in this press release are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.
