Press Release

PayPay Corporation is pleased to announce that it will start integrating its cashless payment service “PayPay” with Taiwan’s cashless payment services JKO Pay, PXPay Plus, and E.SUN Wallet. Of the PayPay merchants nationwide from October 2023, the above services can be used at stores where the merchant-presented mode (MPM)*1 is available.
How the services can be used and details regarding account linkage with each service will be announced on a later date.

*1. Payments where customers scan a QR code installed at or presented by the store.

JKO Pay has more than 6.2 million users, making it the most widely used mobile payment service in Taiwan (as of August 2023). It is also highly regarded for its extensive reach and convenience. In addition, PayPay will also work with PXPay Plus (over 4 million users as of August 2023), a service provided by a major Taiwanese supermarket, and E.SUN Wallet (over 2.5 million users as of August 2023) of E.SUN Bank, which is actively promoting cross-border payments in the banking industry and achieving excellent results. A seamless connection with Taiwan’s leading cashless payment services will provide a convenient payment experience for tourists visiting Japan, and will also enable merchants to smoothly accommodate visitors who speak different languages.

Restrictions on entry into Japan due to the spread of Covid-19 were lifted in April this year and according to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of foreign visitors to Japan in June exceeded 2 million for the first time since February 2020, when the number of travelers declined significantly due to the pandemic. Furthermore, the number of foreign tourists exceeded 10 million in the first half of 2023. By region, the number of visitors from Taiwan and other East Asian countries is increasing, with Taiwan ranking second only to South Korea (3.75 million) with 2.19 million travelers from January to July this year.*2 In addition, Taiwan ranked first in terms of inbound tourism spending by region from April to June*3. With the increase of tourists to Japan, the gross merchandise

values of Alipay, AlipayHK, and Kakao Pay via Alipay+, which is already linked to “PayPay,” are also on the rise. With further recovery of tourism expected in the future, this new partnership with HIVEX network’s partner wallets—JKO Pay, PXPay Plus, and E.SUN Wallet—will bring in cashless payment service users from Taiwan and help merchants increase sales.

*2. From Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), “Foreign Visitors (Estimated Figures for 2023, released on August 16, 2023) .”
*3. From Japan Tourism Agency’s “Summary of National Survey Results (First Preliminary Report) for April to June 2023 (released on July 19, 2023).”

With the aim of supporting merchants seeking to capture foreign tourist demand, PayPay has been creating an environment in which users of overseas cashless payment services can make payments at PayPay merchants since “PayPay” was launched in October 2018. When paying for goods and services with overseas cashless payment services through “PayPay” QR codes, after entering the price in yen, the amount can be automatically converted into the currency of each country. This makes for a convenient shopping experience and the merchants also benefit from a smoother transaction with tourists who speak a different language.

PayPay will continue to enhance its collaboration with payment services overseas to further support merchants in benefitting from the increased demand from inbound tourism.

■ List of overseas cashless payment services with which “PayPay” is/will be integrated (from October 2023)

■ About the HIVEX® network

The HIVEX® network provides a better user experience by offering mobile payment service providers (MPSPs) common business rules, system integration, consistent and neutral branding, and greater scalability at the commercial level. By connecting to the HIVEX® network, cross-border payments that were previously unfeasible are now possible.

■ About TBCASoft, Inc.

TBCASoft was founded in September 2016 with the goal of building the HIVEX® network, a high-performance, secure, multinational distributed ledger technology (DLT) network. SoftBank Corp. and NAVER have invested in the company. TBCASoft has expanded the scope of its services globally, has accumulated a wide range of expertise in financial technology, and is committed to building an innovative ecosystem that combines DLT technology with financial services to enhance user convenience.

■ 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 situations, 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 a service provider 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)
・Business Operator that Concludes Contracts on the Handling of Credit Card Numbers, etc., Registration #: Kanto (K) No. 106 (Registration date: July 1, 2019)
・Telecommunications Carrier (Filing #: A-02-17943 / Date filed: July 2, 2019)
・Fund Transfer Operator, Registration #: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau, No. 00068 (Registration date: September 25, 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)
・Japan Payment Service Association (https://www.s-kessai.jp/, Date of admission: September 12, 2018)
・Japan Consumer Credit Association (https://www.j-credit.or.jp/, Date of admission: July 1, 2019)

* “PayPay” provides 4 types of PayPay balance: PayPay Money, PayPay Money Lite, PayPay Points, and Gift Vouchers.
PayPay Money can be used to pay for partner services and in transactions at merchants if the transaction value 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 services, can be remitted or cashed out, and is issued by PayPay 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 protects the debt it owes to its users in by depositing assets equivalent to or higher than the debt amount. 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, which are granted through campaigns and promotions when using PayPay, can be used for partner services and in transactions at 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 Gift Voucher is a type of electronic money issued by PayPay, which can be used to make payments for affiliated services and merchants designated by the PayPay Gift Voucher. However, it cannot be transferred to other users or cashed out. PayPay Gift Vouchers are valid for six months after issuance, after which they 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, providing that certain conditions are met, the user can be compensated for the damages suffered (the difference will be provided as compensation if compensation is also provided by a third party). 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.