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).
■ 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.
■ 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.
■ 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.
■ 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.
■ 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.