Binance Pay is expanding the ways eligible international visitors can pay at participating businesses in Japan. From Wednesday, overseas users will be able to spend more than 100 supported cryptocurrencies at the vast majority of merchants that accept PayPay, while those businesses receive settlement in Japanese yen.
How the payment flow works
The service is being delivered through HIVEX, a payment-interoperability framework that links overseas QR-payment services with PayPay-supported merchants in Japan. Binance Pay users can choose from more than 100 cryptocurrencies for payment. Behind the scenes, Tether’s USDt (USDT) serves as the settlement layer for Binance Pay, after which HIVEX settles with PayPay and PayPay settles the merchant in yen.
That arrangement separates the asset used by the customer from the currency received by the store. Customers can use supported cryptoassets, while merchants continue to receive yen through the existing PayPay payment infrastructure.
Binance told Cointelegraph that it is the first crypto-payment service to gain access to PayPay-supported merchants through HIVEX. It also said businesses will not have to complete a separate opt-in process to accept payments made through the service.
Why PayPay access matters for visitors
PayPay is a Japanese cashless-payment service accepted at millions of locations nationwide. Its network includes major chains, independent retailers, vending machines, taxis and public transportation. HIVEX already supports nine other overseas payment services, mainly from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
For eligible overseas visitors, the integration is intended to make crypto spending available across a broad existing merchant network rather than limiting it to stores that specifically support digital assets. For merchants, the stated process keeps settlement in yen and does not require an additional acceptance decision.
The launch comes against the backdrop of substantial international travel to Japan. The Japan Tourism Agency recorded a record 42.7 million international visitors in 2025. In the latest comparable global ranking, based on 2024 figures, Japan placed ninth worldwide and first in Asia.
Visitor numbers have been softer in 2026 than a year earlier. Japan recorded 3.1 million arrivals in August, a 9.6% year-on-year decline, while arrivals during the first eight months totaled 27.6 million, down 2.7% from the same period of 2025, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at 09:23 on October 1, 2026, showed BNB at $766.9793923369, up 0.65% over 24 hours and down 0.02% over seven days. Ore was priced at $105.0162745851, with a 21.22% 24-hour gain and a 51.34% seven-day gain. Hive stood at $0.052645446, down 2.57% over 24 hours but up 15.46% over seven days.
These market figures cover BNB, Ore and Hive and do not provide a price for USDT or the other cryptocurrencies supported through the Binance Pay arrangement.
