PPSC Investment Service Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President & Representative Director: Kosuke Sato; hereinafter PPSC Investment Service*1) and PayPay Corporation (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & Representative Director, CEO, Corporate Officer: Ichiro Nakayama; hereinafter PayPay) are pleased to announce the introduction of a new course in the Earn Points mini app*2 on January 13, 2025*3, where users can enjoy a simulated investment experience. The Bitcoin Course aims to mirror the spot price of the leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, offering users quick access to a simulated investment experience in Bitcoin through Earn Points, without the need to open a brokerage account or register.
Additionally, it is the first time among major providers of point management services that offers the option to auto add points to a Bitcoin-linked course*4. Users can choose to automatically add the PayPay Points they receive to the course, via Earn Points. Transactions during weekday nights are also possible*5.
As interest in cryptocurrencies, particularly Bitcoin, continues to rise after the recent U.S. presidential election, the decision was made to add new courses with high volatility and price appreciation expectations, based also on many requests from users.
*1. A wholly owned subsidiary of PayPay Securities Corporation.
*2. A mini app is a feature that allows users to smoothly make reservations, order products, and purchase services provided by PayPay’s partner companies from the PayPay app.
*3. The new course will be available immediately after the system maintenance (scheduled from 1 a.m. to 9 a.m.) on this day.
*4. Based on a comparison between the published materials of the following point investment service providers: au PAY Points Management, Credit Saison’s Eternal Points Investment Service, d POINT Investment, and Points Management by Rakuten PointClub (as of January 7, 2025, research by PPSC Investment Service).
*5. Transactions are not available on Saturdays, Sundays, and U.S. public holidays. Trading hours are from 8:05 a.m. to 6:55 a.m. the following day (7:05 a.m. to 5:55 a.m. during daylight saving time).
■ How to add points to the Bitcoin Course
[Other ways to access Earn Points]
■ Campaign to celebrate the addition of the Bitcoin Course
PPSC Investment Services will be hosting a promotional campaign from January 13, 2025, through March 31, 2025, to celebrate the addition of the Bitcoin Course. A total of 11,100 users will be selected by lottery each month (33,300 people in total over the three months), out of which, first prize winners will receive 100% worth of the PayPay Points they added to the Bitcoin Course*6.
| Campaign period: | January 13, 2025 (Mon), 08:00 – March 31, 2025 (Mon), 23:59 |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Two conditions must be satisfied to be entered into the lottery. 1.Have the settings to auto-add points to the Bitcoin Course enabled at the end of each month. 2.Add 100 or more points per month to the Bitcoin Course (whether manually or automatically) *The conditions and benefits will be checked and calculated each month. |
| Benefits: | A monthly lottery will take place for users that satisfy the conditions above. 1st prize: 100% of the points added in the month (100 users per month) 2nd prize: 5% of the points added in the month (1,000 users per month) 3rd prize: 1% of the points added in the month (10,000 users per month) |
*6. Please confirm the details of the promotion from the dedicated website that will be provided at a later date. The period, conditions, and benefits of the promotion may change.
■ About Earn Points
Currently, Earn Points offers eight courses: the Standard Course, Challenge Course, Technology Course, Gold Course, Reverse Challenge Course, Technology Challenge Course, Reverse Technology Challenge Course, and U.S. Long-Term Treasury Bond Challenge Course. With the addition of the new course, a total of nine courses that are hand-picked based on popularity, themes, and risk acceptance will be available, allowing users to select a course that better suits their investment style and preferences.
More than 19 million people are using Earn Point as of the end of December 2024, as it continues to update the record as the largest service in the industry compared to other major providers offering point management services*4.
■ “Earn Points” Courses
| Course | Bitcoin [NEW] | U.S. Super Long Treasury Bond Challenge | Technology Challenge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Details | This course aims to track the price of Bitcoin. Although Bitcoin prices fluctuate significantly, there is also considerable potential for future gains. *Earn Points provides a simulated investment experience using points and does not involve trading of actual cryptocurrencies. |
This course tracks the Direxion Daily 20+ Year Treasury Bull 3X Shares (TMF), an ETF linked to the price of U.S. treasury bonds with a maturity of 20 years or more, with a 3x leverage. If the interest rate decreases by 0.1%, the points that are invested will increase by 5%. Likewise, the drop will also be 5% and is suited for short-term management. | This course tracks ProShares’ UltraPro QQQ (TQQQ), an ETF that seeks investments results with a 3x leverage corresponding to the stock prices of 100 companies representing the NASDAQ exchange in the U.S. If stock prices increase by 10%, the points that are invested will increase by 30%. Likewise, the drop will also be 30% and is suited for short-term management. |
| Course | Technology Reverse Challenge | Gold | Technology |
| Details | This course tracks ProShares’ UltraPro Short QQQ (SQQQ), an ETF that seeks investments results corresponding to three times the inverse (-3x) of the stock prices of 100 companies representing the NASDAQ exchange in the U.S. It is suited for short-term investments, as the value will significantly increase when the value of NASDAQ equities declines. | This course tracks the price of SPDR Gold Shares (GLD), an ETF managed in gold. Since it is less likely to be affected by a decline in stock prices, the course is suited for users who prefer avoiding the risks that other stock-based courses are exposed to. | This course tracks Invesco QQQ (QQQ), and ETF that offers investing in a portfolio consisting of 100 companies representing the NASDAQ exchange in the U.S. The course is suited for users who prefer investing in leading technology companies in America. |
| Course | Standard | Challenge | Reverse Challenge |
| Details | This course is linked to the SPDR S&P500 ETF (SPY), and ETF that offers investing in a portfolio consisting of 500 companies representing the U.S. The course is suited for long term investments, with less volatility compared to investments in individual stocks given the diversification across 500 companies. | This course tracks Direxion S&P 500 3X (SPXL), an ETF that seeks investments results with a 3x leverage corresponding to the stock prices of several leading U.S. companies. If the price increases by 10%, the points that are invested will increase by 30%. Likewise, the drop will also be 30% and is suited for short-term management. | This course tracks Direxion S&P 500 Bear 3X (SPXS), an ETF that seeks investments results corresponding to three times the inverse (-3x) of the stock prices of several leading U.S. companies. It is suited for short-term investments, as the value will significantly when the U.S. stock market declines. |
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■ Trading rules for the Bitcoin Course
The Bitcoin Course may experience greater fluctuations in points compared to the other eight courses. Therefore, the following trading rules, not applicable to the other courses, will apply.
Also, due to its nature the course is not subject to the All-Courses feature.
| Trading hours | [Weekdays only] 8:05 a.m. to 6:55 a.m. the next day (Downtime: 06:55:01 a.m. to 08:04:59 a.m. on Tuesdays ~ Fridays, 06:55:01 on Saturdays through to 08:04:59 on Mondays, and public holidays in the U.S.) Neither automatic nor manual additions or withdrawals are allowed outside of trading hours *Daylight saving time shifts the trading hours one hour earlier |
|---|---|
| Point addition units | Minimum 100 points / increments of 1 point (no upper limit) |
| Auto add | Points are automatically added when the accumulated amount within trading hours reaches 100 points or more If the accumulated amount is less than 100 points or outside trading hours, points will remain as PayPay Points / All Courses feature is not applicable |
| Point withdrawal units | Minimum 100 points / increments of 1 point (no upper limit) If less than 100 points, only a full sale is possible |
| Fees | A variable spread will be applied upon addition and withdrawal |
There will be no changes to the conditions for the existing eight courses. Users can manage their points starting from 1 point. A transaction fee equivalent to 1.0% of the reference asset’s price for the selected course (spread) will be considered and borne by the user for any addition of 100 points or more in a single transaction.
■ Earn extra points by agreeing to the terms of service of “Earn Points”! “Let’s Start Using Earn Points Program”
Users who agree to the terms of service for “Earn Points” from within the PayPay app during the program period have the chance to receive up to 1,000 yen worth of points for investing.
| Campaign period: | February 1, 2024 – End date TBD This is a sustained program with no fixed period. |
|---|---|
| Details: | Users who newly agree to the terms of service for Earn Points during the program period will be given points for investing under the “Standard Course.” 1st prize: 1,000 points / 10 winners every month 2nd prize: 10 points / 1,000 winners every month 3rd prize: 1 point / all users who agree to the terms of service and do not win 1st or 2nd prize |
| Conditions | Users who newly agree to the terms of service during the program period. *Users who have already agreed to the terms of service prior to the program period are not eligible. |
For more information on this program, please visit the following website.
https://www.ppsc-is.co.jp/campaign/program/
■ About PPSC Investment Service Corporation
PPSC Investment Service is the operator of the Earn Points service, which allows users to experience a simulated investment through a mini app in “PayPay.” “Earn Points” was launched as “Earn Bonus” on April 1, 2020, and has gained the support of many users, as it does not require any additional procedures such as opening a securities account, and anyone can immediately start simulated investments from within the PayPay app. In addition, by acquiring the financial instruments intermediary service license, the company has enabled a smoother transition from “Earn Points” to “PayPay Invest,” and thereby a better user experience.
PPSC Investment Service will continue to provide and update its services, such as adding more Earn Points courses, in order to make asset management more accessible to customers.
・Financial Instruments Intermediary Services (Registration number: Kanto Finance Bureau Director (Kinchu) No. 1024 / Registration date: January 16, 2024)
■ 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 the “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 “Earn Points,” 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 Corporation is registered as follows:
・Prepaid Payment Instruments (third party type) Issuer (Registration number: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau, No. 00710 / Registration date: October 5, 2018)
・Business Operator that Concludes Contracts on the Handling of Credit Cards (Registration number: Kanto (Ku) No. 106 / Registration date: July 1, 2019)
・Telecommunications Carrier (Filing number: A-02-17943 / Date filed: July 2, 2019)
・Fund Transfer Operator (Registration number: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau, No. 00068 / Registration date: September 25, 2019)
・Notified Entity Entrusted with Intermediation (Filing number: C1907980 / Date filed: December 18, 2019)
・Bank Agency Services (License: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau (Gindai) No. 396 / Registration date: November 26, 2020)
・Financial Instruments Intermediary Services (Registration number: Kanto Finance Bureau Director (Kinchu) No. 942 / Registration date: June 25, 2021)
・Electronic Payment Agency Services (License: Director-General of the Kanto Finance Bureau (Dendai) No. 109 / Registration date: February 14, 2023)
・Designated Funds Transfer Operator, permitted to provide digital payment of wages （Designation No.: Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare No. 00001 / Date of designation: August 9, 2024)
・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” offers four types of electronic money and other services: PayPay Money, PayPay Money Lite, PayPay Points, and PayPay Gift Vouchers.
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 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. PayPay Money (Paycheck) refers to PayPay Money that can only be purchased with wages received by the PayPay user in their Paycheck Account. Based on the provisions of Article 43 of the Payment Services Act, PayPay protects the debt it owes to its users 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, it cannot be transferred to other users or 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 have an expiration date, after which they will no longer be valid. The deadline for Gift Vouchers can be confirmed in the details or specifications of the measure or promotion campaigns for which they are issued.
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.
