Binance Pay Users Can Now Spend USDT at PayPay Merchants in Japan

Crypto payments expand to Japanese travelers

Binance Pay has launched a new feature allowing eligible overseas users visiting Japan to spend Tether USDt (USDT), a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, at most merchants that accept PayPay. The service began on Wednesday. While users pay in cryptocurrency, the participating stores receive their payment in Japanese yen.

How the integration works

The connection between Binance Pay and PayPay is managed through HIVEX, a framework designed to link different QR payment systems. Binance stated that this makes it the first cryptocurrency payment service to access PayPay merchants via this specific framework. Store owners do not need to take any special action or sign up separately to accept these payments.

• Eligible overseas users can spend USDT at PayPay-supported locations.
• Merchants receive settlements in yen automatically.
• The service covers major chains, small retailers, taxis, and public transport.
• No additional opt-in process is required for merchants.

Context on Japan's tourism and payments

PayPay is a widely used cashless payment service in Japan, accepted at millions of locations including vending machines and major retail chains. Through HIVEX, it currently supports nine other overseas payment services, primarily from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

This launch comes as Japan continues to see high numbers of international tourists. The Japan Tourism Agency reported a record 42.7 million visitors in 2025. However, data from the Japan National Tourism Organization shows that visitor arrivals dropped by 9.6% in August 2026 compared to the previous year, totaling 27.6 million for the first eight months of the year.

Source

• Cointelegraph