Peanut Is Coming to Japan
Send money to any Japanese bank account via Zengin-Net — instantly, 24/7. No My Number needed. Sign up to get notified.
Japan welcomes over 30 million visitors annually, yet remains one of the most cash-dependent developed nations in the world. Many restaurants, temples, shrines, local shops, and rural areas are cash-only. QR payments exist — PayPay, Line Pay, Rakuten Pay, and others — but the landscape is fragmented with no single dominant standard. Zengin-Net, Japan's legacy interbank payment network, has been operating since 1973 and was upgraded to 24/7 real-time processing in 2018. It connects over 1,000 financial institutions and is the backbone of domestic bank-to-bank transfers. But accessing Japanese banking requires a My Number (national identification number for residents), which short-term visitors cannot obtain.
Peanut will bridge that gap. When we launch in Japan, you will be able to send money to any Japanese bank account via Zengin-Net — instantly, 24/7, at the market rate, without a My Number. For tourists needing to pay hotels, ryokans, or tour operators that prefer bank transfers, and for anyone sending money to Japan, Peanut will provide immediate access to Japan's interbank network.
How It Will Work
- 1
Deposit from anywhere
Send digital dollars from any exchange or wallet via Solana, Arbitrum, Base, Tron, or Ethereum. Gas fees covered. Or deposit from your bank via SEPA (Europe), ACH (US), or wire transfer. All deposits are free.
- 2
Your balance stays in dollars
Your balance will be held in digital dollars until you need yen. Convert only when you are ready to send.
- 3
Send via Zengin-Net
Transfer to any Japanese bank account by entering the bank, branch, account type, and account number. Your dollars will convert to JPY at the market rate. No fees from Peanut.
- 4
Instant arrival
The recipient will receive yen in their bank account in real time. Zengin-Net processes transfers 24/7 across all major Japanese banks.
What Payment Methods Are Coming
Zengin-Net
Zengin-Net is Japan's interbank payment network, operated by the Japanese Bankers Association (JBA). In operation since 1973, it is one of the oldest real-time payment systems in the world. The 2018 upgrade to 24/7 processing (Zengin More Time System) brought it in line with modern instant payment networks.
Zengin-Net connects virtually all banks in Japan: megabanks (MUFG, SMBC, Mizuho), regional banks, shinkin banks (credit unions), online banks (Rakuten Bank, SBI Sumishin, PayPay Bank), and Japan Post Bank — over 1,000 financial institutions in total.
Unlike consumer-facing QR systems, Zengin-Net is infrastructure. Users interact with it through their bank's app or ATM. Transfers require full bank/branch/account details rather than phone numbers.
How it will work with Peanut: Open the Peanut app, enter the recipient's bank details (bank name, branch, account type, account number). Review the amount in JPY and the exchange rate. Confirm — funds arrive in real time.
No My Number needed. Japan's My Number system is issued to registered residents only — not available to tourists or short-term visitors. Opening a bank account as a non-resident is extremely difficult. Peanut will accept passport verification from any country, giving you access to Zengin-Net transfers without needing to navigate Japan's banking system.
Full guide: Pay with Zengin-Net in Japan
Exchange Rate: What to Expect
The Japanese yen is one of the world's most traded currencies. The JPY/USD pair is highly liquid, but traditional cross-border transfer services still add 1-3% in markups and fees. Airport currency exchange in Japan is notoriously expensive. ATM withdrawals at 7-Eleven and Lawson convenience stores work well for visitors but come with per-transaction fees.
Peanut will convert digital dollars to yen at the market rate — avoiding the markup layers of cards, banks, and exchange bureaus.
Rate lock: The rate will lock at the moment of payment. No slippage.
No fees. Peanut will charge nothing on deposits, Zengin-Net transfers, or withdrawals. Gas fees are covered.
Compare rates:
Who Will Use Peanut in Japan
Tourists (US and UK)
Japan is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations. You arrive in Tokyo, Osaka, or Kyoto — and immediately realize that cash is still king in many places. Convenience store ATMs (7-Eleven, Lawson) are your lifeline, but each withdrawal costs a fee. Hotels, ryokans, and some tour operators prefer bank transfers. International credit cards work at larger establishments but not at the ramen shop down the alley or the shrine entrance.
Peanut will let you send yen to a Japanese bank account instantly — useful for paying hotels, tour operators, and services that accept bank transfers. As Japan's QR payment landscape matures, Peanut will expand to cover more spending scenarios.
Anyone Sending Money to Japan
Whether you are paying a Japanese freelancer, supporting family, or pre-paying for services before a trip, sending money to Japan through traditional banks is slow (2-5 business days) and expensive ($25-80 in wire fees plus exchange markups). Peanut will make it instant via Zengin-Net, at the market rate, with no fees.
Info
Get Notified
Peanut is not yet live for spending in Japan, but you can sign up now to be notified when Zengin-Net integration launches. When live, you will send money to any Japanese bank account — instantly, 24/7, at the market rate.
Today, you can already use Peanut to deposit and withdraw digital dollars in Japan via supported networks like Solana and Arbitrum. Zengin-Net integration is coming next.
Verification: You will verify with a passport or national ID card from any country. No My Number required. Under 2 minutes. Powered by Persona (SOC 2 Type 2, GDPR, ISO 27001). Peanut never sees or stores your documents.
