#Japan #Osaka #BaaS #Smart Plus #Osaka Digital Exchange

Smart Plus Enters the Security Token Trading Arena

On September 17, 2025, Smart Plus, a fintech company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, will join the Osaka Digital Exchange's (ODX) private trading system, known as 'START.' This system is Japan's first secondary market for security tokens (ST).

Background and Objectives

ODX's 'START' aims to create a structured secondary market for security tokens, facilitating proper price formation and improving liquidity. By obtaining the 'Standard (B)' trading participant qualification, Smart Plus will now engage in the buying and selling of STs, providing a comprehensive securities business platform alongside traditional financial instruments like stocks and bonds.

By integrating ID into the START ecosystem, Smart Plus, as the second brokerage firm to implement direct system connection with START, enhances its BaaS platform. This strategic move allows for more dynamic digital securities trading, meeting the increasing demand for innovative financial instruments.

The Significance of Joining START

With the admission into START, Smart Plus will be able to conduct transactions, clearing, and settlement for security tokens offered in the marketplace. The collaboration will not only enhance Smart Plus’s services but also open new avenues for its partner firms, enabling them to incorporate ST trading into their offerings in the future. This advancement will enrich the investment landscape for clients, providing access to a diverse array of assets, including real estate and corporate bonds as digitalized STs.

What is BaaS?

Smart Plus operates the 'BaaS (Brokerage as a Service)' platform, which serves as an API-based securities business platform, managing all external collaborations in the cloud. By separating the front, middle, and back systems, it allows for easy service development tailored to customer needs, while also adapting flexibly to external regulatory changes and environmental dynamics. Through BaaS, firms can offer value-added unique services cost-effectively and quickly.

Basic Features:

• - Trade execution
• - Deposit and withdrawal functions
• - Tax-related services
• - Shareholder administration
• - Account opening and management

Optional Features:

• - Credit card debiting
• - Point investments
• - Robo-advisors

Features of SaaS-Based System

BaaS is provided as a cloud-based platform, boasting several unique features:

• - Automatic Updates: Quickly adapts to regulatory changes and constantly offers the latest functionalities.
• - No Additional Cost for Feature Expansion: Unlike traditional on-premises systems, no extra costs are incurred for functionality updates.
• - Rapid Feature Deployment: Thanks to its cloud nature, new features can be deployed across the board swiftly.

Implementation Success Stories

Several companies have successfully implemented BaaS:

• - Credit Saison's 'Saison Pocket'
• - Nissay Asset Management's 'GoalNavi' and 'N Direct'
• - Seven Bank's 'Investment Shopping KOREKABU'
• - Saison Asset Management's 'Saison and Continue'
• - Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management's 'mattoco+'
• - Bayview Asset Management's 'Bayview Fund'

The Future of Security Tokens

The establishment of 'START' is anticipated to foster a more vibrant secondary market for STs, ultimately enhancing investor access and increasing the popularity of security tokens. Through promoting an active trading environment, the move is a significant step toward developing a more accessible capital market.

About Osaka Digital Exchange

ODX, established in April 2021, aims to create a thriving secondary market for security tokens. By facilitating structured market operations, it enhances the accessibility and reliability of the capital market in Japan. With its commitment to organizing the ST market, ODX envisions improved pricing and enhanced liquidity for security tokens, making these innovative investment tools more approachable for investors.

The collaboration between Smart Plus and ODX signals an exciting evolution in Japan's financial landscape, striving to usher in an era of comprehensive digital finance services actively engaged in by both firms and their partners.