J-Coin Pay, a digital currency-based payments service that will support both P2P payments and enable consumers to make QR mobile payments in stores, will go live in Japan on 1 March, developer Mizuho Financial Group has announced.
The service will go live first for customers of Mizuho Bank and will then be extended from 25 March to include customers of sixty Japanese regional banks that have signed up to support the service.
Additional features are also due to be included, Mizuho says. “We will use it as a banking digital currency for a wide range of financial services,” the launch statement explains (in Japanese).[1]
Both Alipay and UnionPay have agreed to support J-Coin Pay, the bank adds. Companies that are currently “considering utilization and cooperation of J-Coin Pay” include retailers FamilyMart, Bic Camera and Yamada Denki, rail operator JR East and restaurant operator Royal Holdings Co.
References
- ^ the launch statement explains (in Japanese). (www.mizuhobank.co.jp)
