Blockstream Expands to Tokyo to Boost Bitcoin Adoption

February 9, 2025

Catenaa, Sunday, February 09, 2025 – Blockstream, a Bitcoin infrastructure firm co-founded by Adam Back, has opened a new office in Tokyo, marking a major step in expanding Bitcoin adoption across Asia.  The company has partnered with Diamond Hands, a Japanese Bitcoin consultancy, and Fulgur Ventures, an investor in Bitcoin-first firms, to introduce advanced Bitcoin […]

Circle to Launch USDC in Japan via SBI VC Trade

March 26, 2025

Catenaa, Wednesday, March 26, 2025- Circle will debut its USDC stablecoin in Japan on March 26, marking the first approved foreign stablecoin launch in the country. SBI VC Trade, a crypto exchange under financial giant SBI Group, will be the first platform to list USDC, with other local exchanges, including Binance Japan, bitbank, and bitFlyer, […]

Dollar Gains, Yen Slips as Trump Tariff Delay Calms Markets

May 28, 2025

Catenaa, Wednesday, May 28, 2025- The dollar rose sharply Tuesday after President Donald Trump postponed higher tariffs on the European Union, a move that steadied global markets and prompted renewed dollar buying, while the yen slipped amid a sharp fall in Japanese bond yields. With US and UK markets reopening after a Monday holiday, currency […]

EU Vows To Retaliate If US Sticks With 10% Baseline Tariff

June 25, 2025

Catenaa, Wednesday, June 25, 2025– The European Union (EU) vowed to retaliate if the US sticks with its baseline 10% tariff, the EU Industry Chief said on Wednesday, as pressure mounts on closing key trade deals. The EU said that it would hit US goods like Boeing planes with tariffs if President Trump follows through […]

Germany Overtakes Japan As World’s Largest Creditor Nation

May 27, 2025

Catenaa, Tuesday, May 27, 2025– Japan lost its title as the largest creditor nation in the world after 34 years to Germany, with $3.9 trillion external net assets, official data showed on Tuesday. Data released by the Japanese Finance Ministry showed that Japan’s net external assets reached ¥533.05 trillion or $3.7 trillion at the end […]

Honda and Nissan Explore Merger to Compete in EV Market

December 18, 2024

Catenaa, Wednesday, December 18, 2024 – Japanese automotive giants Honda and Nissan have reportedly engaged in preliminary discussions about a potential merger, aimed at bolstering their competitiveness in the electric vehicle (EV) market, particularly against emerging Chinese manufacturers.  Both companies issued identical statements to the BBC, referencing their March agreement to explore strategic partnerships in […]

Japan Aims QR Code For Seamless Payments System In ASEAN

April 14, 2024

Tokyo, Japan, Monday, March 25, 2024- Japan has embarked on talks with Southeast Asian nations to establish a joint QR code payment system by fiscal year 2025 (starting April 2025). The initiative aims to streamline cashless transactions for travelers and businesses between regions. The project seeks to achieve compatibility between existing QR code systems, allowing […]

Japan Exports Fall In May With Decline In Auto Exports To US

June 18, 2025

Catenaa, Wednesday, June 18, 2025- Japan exports fell in May as shipments of Motor Vehicles to the US dropped nearly 25% year-over-year due to higher tariffs imposed by President Trump. Japanese Finance Ministry data showed on Wednesday that exports fell 1.7% year-on-year, while imports sank 7.7%, reflecting weakening domestic demand and worse than the 2% […]

Japan Moves to Approve Stablecoins, Crypto Brokerage Reforms

February 21, 2025

 Catenaa, Friday, February 21, 2025- Japan Financial Services Agency (FSA) is set to approve significant regulatory reforms for stablecoins and crypto brokerage firms, aiming to ease market entry and enhance user protections.  The FSA has endorsed recommendations from a working group proposing a new category of “intermediary” crypto businesses. This change would streamline regulations for […]

Japan Projects First Positive Output Gap in Seven Years

December 26, 2024

Catenaa, Thursday, December 26, 2024-Japan’s government announced Thursday it expects economic output to exceed full capacity in the next fiscal year, marking the first positive output gap in seven years. The recovery is attributed to strong demand and a tight labor market.   The Cabinet Office estimates the output gap will stand at +0.4% for […]

Japan Records A Trade Deficit After 2023 With Weaker Yen

March 10, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, March 10, 2025– Japan recorded the first current account deficit in January after two years, as electronics imports from China with weaker yen raised the cost. Government data showed on Monday, Japan’s current account deficit in January stood at 257.6 billion yen or $1.75 billion, bigger than a median market forecast for a deficit […]

Japan Seeks Tesla Investment in Nissan After Honda Talks

February 22, 2025

Catenaa, Friday, February 21, 2025 – Japan has drawn up plans for Elon Musk’s Tesla to invest in Nissan following the collapse of merger talks with Honda, according to a report from the Financial Times on Friday. The report said a high-level Japanese group, including a former prime minister, has drawn up plans for Elon Musk’s Tesla […]

Japan Tells Google to End Unfair Android Deals

April 19, 2025

Catenaa, Saturday, April 19, 2025- Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) issued a cease and desist order against Google on Tuesday for unfair trade practices related to its search services on Android devices. The commission found that Google had violated Japan’s anti-monopoly law by using licensing agreements with Android device manufacturers to require the preinstallation and […]

Japan to Order Google to Halt Alleged Antitrust Violations

December 23, 2024

Catenaa, Monday, December 23, 2024 – Japan’s Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) plans to order Google to cease practices it says violate the nation’s antitrust laws, according to sources familiar with the matter.  The JFTC accuses Google of requiring smartphone manufacturers using its Android operating system to pre-install apps such as Google Search and Chrome in […]

Japan to Reclassify Cryptocurrencies as Financial Products

March 31, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, March 31, 2025-Japan is seeking to reclassify cryptocurrencies as financial products, introducing stricter regulations on insider trading similar to traditional financial markets.  The move, which is part of a broader revision of Japan’s Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, aims to differentiate digital assets from securities while recognizing their investment characteristics.  This proposal reflects […]

Japan’s December Exports Rise Amid Trade Uncertainty

January 26, 2025

Catenaa, Sunday, January 2025 – Japan’s exports climbed 2.8% in December compared to a year earlier, marking the third consecutive monthly increase and surpassing forecasts of 2.3%, according to government data released last Thursday. The weaker yen boosted shipment values, particularly for chipmaking equipment to Taiwan, but export volumes to key trading partners fell, reflecting […]

Japan’s Inflation Hits 2-Year High, BOJ Rate Hike Likely

February 22, 2025

Catenaa, Friday, February 21, 2025 – Japan’s headline inflation rose by 4% year-on-year(y/y) in January, the highest recorded after January 2023, official data said on Friday, putting the Bank of Japan(BOJ) on the path of more rate hikes. Data showed that Japanese inflation has accelerated more than expected in January, with consumer prices excluding fresh food rising […]

Japan’s SBI Now Eyes USDC Listing

February 15, 2025

Catenaa, Friday, February 14, 2025 – Japan’s SBI Group has reported record crypto-related profits as it readies itself to become the first exchange operator in the country to list USD Coin (USDC). The firm also announced plans to expand its crypto offerings. In its consolidated Q3 financial results, SBI posted revenues of approximately 62.8 billion […]

Japan’s Economy Surges 2.8% in Q4, Exceeding Expectations

February 17, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, February 17, 2025 – Japan’s economy grew at an annualized rate of 2.8% in the fourth quarter, surpassing market expectations of 1.0%, as strong capital expenditure and resilient consumption fueled growth, government data showed Monday.  The robust expansion, translating to a 0.7% quarter-on-quarter increase, was driven by a rebound in business investment and […]

Japan’s Metaplanet Adds Nearly 270 Bitcoin, Brings Holdings Above 2,000 BTC

February 24, 2025

Catenaa, Sunday, February 23, 2025 – Japan’s investment firm Metaplanet has expanded its Bitcoin holdings by acquiring an additional 269.43 BTC, worth approximately $25.9 million. This recent purchase has pushed its total Bitcoin reserves to 2,031.41 BTC. The acquisition was made at a rate of 14,846,322 yen (roughly $97,985.73) per Bitcoin, continuing the firm’s strategy […]

Japan’s SBI invests $50 million in Circle’s NYSE IPO

June 11, 2025

Catenaa, Wednesday, June 11, 2025-Japanese financial giant SBI Group confirmed it invested $50 million in US stablecoin issuer Circle during its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), the company said Monday. The investment was evenly divided between SBI Holdings and subsidiary SBI Shinsei Bank. Circle’s June 4 IPO raised about $1.1 […]

Japanese Crypto Exchange DMM Bitcoin Suffers $305M Hack

June 15, 2024

Tuesday, June 11, 2024 – DMM Bitcoin, one of the leading crypto exchanges in Japan, reported the theft of $305 million (48 billion yen of BTC) and 4502.9 BTC from its wallet. The following services—new account openings, new buying orders for spot trading, and crypto asset withdrawals—have been temporarily suspended to secure the infrastructure of […]

Japanese Senate Approves Crypto Brokerages Reform Bill

June 11, 2025

Catenaa, Wednesday, June 11, 2025 –Japan’s Senate, the House of Councilors, approved a significant amendment to the Payment Services Act on June 6, loosening regulations for crypto brokerage firms and creating a new legal category called “intermediary businesses.” The move aims to give these firms greater operational freedom while maintaining customer protections. Currently, crypto brokerages […]

Metaplanet Buys $118M BTC, Holdings Pass $1B

June 23, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, June 23, 2025- Japanese investment firm Metaplanet added 1,111 Bitcoin worth  $118.2 million during a market dip, raising its total holdings to 11,111 BTC valued at over  $1.07 billion. The Tokyo-listed company disclosed that it acquired the latest batch at an average price of  $106,408 per coin. With Bitcoin trading just above  $101,000 […]

Metaplanet Buys $12.5M Bitcoin, Plans More Investments

March 23, 2025

Catenaa, Sunday, March 23, 2025-Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has acquired an additional 150 bitcoin for $12.5 million, continuing its aggressive accumulation strategy.  The Tokyo-listed firm announced Tuesday that the purchase brings its total bitcoin holdings to 3,200 BTC, valued at approximately $265.9 million at current market prices. The company has spent about $266.2 million on […]

Metaplanet Buys $12.6M Bitcoin After Eric Trump Joins

March 29, 2025

Catenaa, Saturday, March 29, 2025- Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has added 150 more bitcoin, worth $12.6 million, days after appointing Eric Trump to its Strategic Board of Advisors.  The Tokyo-listed company announced Monday that it purchased the bitcoin at an average price of $83,801 per BTC, bringing its total holdings to 3,350 BTC—currently valued at […]

Metaplanet Buys 1,234 Bitcoin, Boosts Holdings to $1.3 Billion

June 30, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, June 30, 2025- Japan-based Metaplanet said last week it had added 1,234 Bitcoin to its corporate treasury, lifting its total holdings to 12,345 BTC, now valued at over $1.3 billion, the company said Thursday. The acquisition, one of the firm’s largest to date, was made at an average price of 15.6 million yen […]

Mitsubishi To Invest $27B In Next Three Years

April 3, 2025

Catenaa, Thursday, April 03, 2025- Japanese multinational company Mitsubishi Corp plans to invest at least $27 billion over the next three years to drive growth, the company said on Thursday, aiming to lift its net profit to $8.15 billion in the 2027/28 financial year. Unveiling its new three-year management strategy starting this month,the company said […]

Nissan Faces $5B Loss Amid Major Restructuring

April 24, 2025

Catenaa, Thursday, April 24, 2025- Nissan Motor expects a net loss of $4.9 billion to $5.2 billion for the financial year, which is over 775% increase from the previous estimate as the company restructures. In a filing to the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Thursday, Nissan Motor said that operating profit for fiscal year 2024 is […]

Ripple Unveils $200K Grants for Japan-Based XRPL Startups

June 12, 2025

Catena, Thursday, June 12, 2025-Ripple has partnered with Asia Web3 Alliance Japan to support early-stage Web3 startups building on the XRP Ledger, pledging up to $200,000 in grants per project. The announcement, made Monday, is part of Ripple’s XRPL Japan and Korea Fund and its broader one billion XRP initiative. The funding will be directed […]

South Korea May Approve Bitcoin ETF After Japan’s Move

March 8, 2025

Catenaa, Saturday, March 08, 2025-South Korea regulators may move closer to approving Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) if Japan gives the green light to similar investment products, according to a new report.  The Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) have been closely monitoring Japan’s approach to Bitcoin ETFs, Maeil Kyungjae reported Tuesday. […]

The Japanese Gaming Giant Plans 1 Billion worth Bitcoin Purchase

February 19, 2025

Catenaa, Tuesday, February 18, 2025 – Japan-based mobile gaming company Gumi Inc announced on February 10 that it is expecting to purchase bitcoin worth 1 billion Japanese yen (around $6.58 million).The company says it intends to purchase between February and May this year.The core of this Bitcoin purchase would be an acceleration of the company’s […]

Toyota Production Up For 2nd Consecutive Month

March 28, 2025

Catenaa, Friday, March 28, 2025- Toyota Motor’s global production rose for the second consecutive month in February, the company said on Friday, driven by global output and sales in Japan. Global output for the world’s biggest automaker increased 5.8% to 779,790 vehicles year-on-year, with domestic production up 16,2% and that in other countries growing at […]

Trump Aiming To Make Small And Quicker Deals Before July 9

July 1, 2025

Catenaa, Tuesday, July 01, 2025- President Donald Trump team is no longer aiming for big trade deals with many countries but is trying to make smaller and quicker deals before July 09. According to the Financial Times report on Tuesday, these mini deals would help countries avoid those harsh levies, but partners would still face […]

Trump Says Tariffs For Trading Partners Will Be Set In Weeks

May 16, 2025

Catenaa, Friday, May 16, 2025– US President Donald Trump said on Friday tariffs rate for US trading partners will be set over the next two to three weeks, as his administration lacks the capacity to negotiate deals with all trading partners. Trump said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick will be sending […]

Trump Says Unilateral Tariff Rates Will Be Set In Two Weeks

June 12, 2025

Catenaa, Thursday, June 12, 2025- President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the letters will be sent to the trading partners in the next week or two, setting unilateral tariff rates. “At a certain point, we’re just going to send letters out. And I think you understand that, saying this is the deal, you can […]

Trump Warns Japan Of 35% Tariffs With Tensions Escalating

July 2, 2025

Catenaa, Wednesday, July 03, 2025- US President Donald Trump warned that Japan should pay up to 35% tariffs on US exports as tension between the two nations ramped up for a third straight day. Japan should be forced to “pay 30%, 35% or whatever the number is that we determine, because we also have a […]

Universal Digital Unveils Bitcoin Treasury Plan Globally

June 28, 2025

Catenaa, Saturday, June 28, 2025-Universal Digital Inc. has announced a major pivot to a Bitcoin-focused capital strategy, initiating a phased divestment of altcoins and redirecting proceeds into Bitcoin reserves. The Canadian-listed company said Monday the move aims to boost its long-term net asset value and strengthen its balance sheet amid rising institutional adoption of digital […]

US Reaches Trade Deal With Japan With A 15% Tariff

July 23, 2025

Catenaa, Wednesday, July 23, 2025- US President Trump said on Tuesday that the US and Japan had reached a trade deal that includes a 15% tariff on goods from Japan. “We just completed a massive Deal with Japan, perhaps the largest Deal ever made,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. The president said the […]