#Crypto Payments #Japan #Fukuoka #Ureru Group #GANECCI

Introduction

Ureru Net Advertising Group, based in Fukuoka, Japan, has announced the establishment of a new subsidiary called GANECCI. This new venture is focused on initiating a cryptocurrency payment business under the brand "Minapay Crypto." This decision was confirmed in a board meeting held today. With growing global interest in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology, this step aligns with the increasing demand for digital assets in the payment sector.

Background and Purpose

In recent years, the cashless payment landscape in Japan has advanced rapidly. By 2024, the credit card market is projected to reach approximately 116.9 trillion yen, while the QR code payment market is expected to expand to around 21 trillion yen. Although there is a surge in digital asset usage, the implementation of cryptocurrency payments in physical stores remains limited due to various challenges, including high merchant fees, concerns over price volatility, and complex operational requirements.

Existing cryptocurrency payment services often impose high fees on merchants and can take considerable time for transactions to complete. These obstacles hinder the evolution of cryptocurrency from being seen as merely an asset to being utilized as a practical payment method in everyday transactions.

The global digital asset market is projected to potentially reach a staggering 28 trillion USD (approximately 4,000 trillion yen), indicating a significant opportunity for a new financial and payment ecosystem driven by digital assets.

In light of this environment, Ureru aims to simplify cryptocurrency payments and establish a framework that allows seamless integration within physical stores and service locations. The newly launched service, "Minapay Crypto," enables merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments conveniently using smartphones and tablets.

Features of Minapay Crypto

Minapay Crypto promises an easy-to-implement payment structure tailored for retail environments. The solution is designed to address the speed of transactions and high fees that have plagued traditional cryptocurrency payment services. Significant enhancements include efficient transaction processing speeds and reduced merchant fee burdens, enabling cryptocurrency payments to be a viable option for daily use.

To combat the challenges of price volatility, Minapay Crypto incorporates real-time exchange rates during transactions, allowing for risk management on the merchant's side while effectively enabling cryptocurrency acceptance.

Through this innovation, Ureru intends to create an environment where restaurants, retail outlets, and service businesses can utilize cryptocurrency payments routinely, facilitating practical everyday transactions.

The Business Model and Strategy

The establishment of GANECCI comes as part of a larger strategy to transcend beyond traditional cryptocurrency usage towards developing a robust payment infrastructure. The project's strategic leader, Mr. Hiroshi Isogai, brings extensive experience and an established network in the cryptocurrency sector, positioning him as a pivotal figure in shaping the company’s strategies and growth.

GANECCI will commence operations with a capital investment of 5 million yen from internal funds, bolstered by a further 5 billion yen dedicated to development and procurement of payment terminals over the next three years. Funding strategies include potential loans or equity contributions from Mr. Isogai alongside bank loans.

GANECCI's financing plan breaks down as follows: 1) Development costs estimated to be around 1 billion yen will be financed through loans from Mr. Isogai. 2) Additional expenses associated with acquiring developed assets previously handled by Mr. Isogai are projected at 4 billion yen. 3) Operational expenditures will be adjusted in response to business growth, typically sourced through bank loans.

Future Outlook and Growth Strategy

Looking ahead, GANECCI will focus on integrating cryptocurrency payment terminals and applications into physical retail settings, improving usability for both merchants and customers. The goal is to facilitate a smooth transition for merchants into accepting cryptocurrency through strategic marketing efforts tailored around Minapay Crypto.

With a targeted deployment of 2,000 payment terminals and 500 domestic partner stores by July 2027, GANECCI aims to achieve a substantial enhancement of its merchant network while exploring international expansion into three Asian markets.

Moving forward, GANECCI sees itself not just as a provider of cryptocurrency payment services but as a catalyst for creating a comprehensive value-driven ecosystem that contextualizes payment solutions within broader Web3 initiatives. Ultimately, the aim is to cultivate cryptocurrency into a functional societal infrastructure, fostering data-driven innovative opportunities that enhance consumer engagement within the payment landscape.

Through this initiative, Ureru will strive for sustained competitive advantages within the Web3 sector and work toward establishing a stronger business platform for long-term growth and value enhancement.