Starting Wednesday, eligible foreign visitors to Japan will be able to use USDT through Binance Pay at most PayPay merchants, according to a statement to Cointelegraph. The functionality will operate via HIVEX, a payment interoperability framework that links overseas QR-based payment platforms to PayPay's network of participating businesses. Merchants will continue receiving settlements in Japanese yen.

Binance described the integration as the first instance of a cryptocurrency payment service gaining access to PayPay's merchant base through HIVEX. The company noted that participating merchants do not need to register separately for the service.

PayPay functions as a cashless payment system accepted at millions of locations across Japan, ranging from large retail chains and small shops to vending machines, taxis, and public transit. It currently incorporates nine other international payment platforms via HIVEX, primarily based in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.

Japan recorded a peak of 42.7 million international arrivals in 2025, as reported by the Japan Tourism Agency. In the most recent global rankings using 2024 data, the country placed ninth worldwide and held the top position in Asia. August 2026 saw 3.1 million visitor arrivals, representing a 9.6% decline from the previous year, with cumulative arrivals for the first eight months of 2026 reaching 27.6 million, a 2.7% decrease compared to the same period in 2025, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization.

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