Rakuten to Unify its Credit Card and Mobile Payments Divisions

According to NHK, Japan's Rakuten Group will combine its credit card and mobile payment businesses and is considering listing its card business. This would be the e-commerce group's latest attempt to shore up its finances after incurring massive losses on its doomed attempt to establish Japan's fourth major mobile network carrier since 2020.

Rakuten Group is a Tokyo-based Japanese technology conglomerate. Its businesses include financial services using fintech, digital content and communications services such as the messaging app Viber, e-book distributor Kobo, and Japan's fourth mobile carrier Rakuten Mobile, all centred on the online retail marketplace Rakuten Ichiba. Rakuten employs over 28,000 people worldwide and operates in 30 countries and regions, with annual revenues of $12.8 billion USD.

From 2017 to 2021, Rakuten was the official sponsor of the Spanish football club FC Barcelona, and beginning in 2022, the Golden State Warriors of the NBA.

Buy.com (now Rakuten.com in the United States), Priceminister (France, now Rakuten.fr), Ikeda, Tradoria, Play.com, Wuaki.tv, Pinterest,[9] Ebates, Viki, and The Grommet are examples of previous significant investments. In addition, the company owns or has owned stakes in Ozon.ru, AHA Life, Lyft, Cabify, Careem, Carousell, and Acorns.