Foreign tourists in Japan can now use digital assets to pay for purchases through Binance Pay at locations that support PayPay. The integration aims to simplify cross-border payments and expand the use of cryptocurrencies for everyday transactions.
Binance Pay users can now pay with digital assets at stores and other locations in Japan that accept PayPay. The two payment systems are connected through the HIVEX blockchain network. The new service primarily targets international travelers visiting Japan.
PayPay is Japan’s largest mobile payment platform and QR code payment system, launched in 2018. The platform has more than 70 million registered users and is accepted at locations across the country.
The main types of purchases and expenses that can be paid for via PayPay include:
- purchases at stores and other retail locations;
- payments at restaurants, cafes, and other dining establishments;
- hotel and other accommodation bookings;
- other travel-related goods and services.
A key feature of the integration is its connection between digital asset payments and Japan’s existing QR code payment infrastructure. Customers pay through Binance Pay, while PayPay merchants don’t need to accept digital assets directly. They receive settlement in Japanese yen.
Thomas Gregory, Vice President of Payments and Fiat at Binance, said the PayPay integration is intended to give travelers more payment options and help Japanese businesses serve more international customers.
The expansion in Japan continued Binance’s strategy of connecting its payment service with established local QR code payment systems. The company has focused primarily on major Asian travel markets, where such infrastructure allows travelers to use digital assets for everyday cross-border payments without requiring merchants to implement a separate payment acceptance system.
In 2025, Binance Pay expanded its global network to more than 20 million merchant locations. The expansion came amid rapid growth in stablecoin adoption, with stablecoins accounting for more than 98% of consumer payments.
