Japanese Telecom-Backed Fintech Group KDDI Acquires Coincheck Group Stake for $65M

KDDI Corporation, one of Japan’s largest telecommunications companies, invested approximately $65 million to acquire a 14.9% stake in Coincheck Group N.V. and signed a business alliance agreement with Coincheck, Inc. to build blockchain-based financial services for Japanese consumers.

Japan Telecom Giant KDDI Invests $65 Million in Coincheck to Bring Crypto to 30 Million au Customers

The deal, revealed this week, positions KDDI alongside Coincheck Group, a Nasdaq-listed Dutch holding company that operates one of Japan’s most downloaded licensed crypto exchanges. KDDI will subscribe to 28,536,516 newly issued ordinary shares of Coincheck Group at $2.28 per share. The transaction is expected to close in June 2026.

As part of the agreement, KDDI gains the right to nominate one non-executive director to Coincheck Group’s board at the next Annual General Meeting, anticipated in September 2026. KDDI also receives registration rights for the acquired shares.

The partnership extends beyond the equity stake. KDDI and Coincheck, Inc. entered a business alliance to drive customer referrals, revenue sharing, and joint product development. KDDI brings a customer base of more than 30 million users through its au brand, along with banking and payment services under au Financial Holdings. Coincheck contributes its licensed crypto exchange infrastructure and user base, built since the company’s founding in 2012.

Together with au Financial Holdings, the two companies formed a joint venture called au Coincheck Digital Assets, Inc. KDDI holds a 50.1% stake in the new entity, Coincheck holds 40%, and au Financial Holdings holds 9.9%. The venture plans to launch a non-custodial digital asset wallet in summer 2026, giving users direct control of their private keys. The platform will also support onchain content and connections to digital asset transaction services.

Coincheck Group CEO Pascal St-Jean described the deal as a significant milestone: “This partnership with KDDI is a powerful validation of Coincheck’s position as Japan‘s leading crypto exchange and reflects the growing convergence of traditional finance and digital assets.”

The companies said they intend the wallet to serve as a foundation for broader blockchain-based financial services, connecting Coincheck’s crypto expertise to KDDI’s existing consumer finance infrastructure.

KDDI and au Financial Holdings are also considering a future transfer of KDDI’s shareholdings in Coincheck Group and the joint venture to au Financial Holdings. The move would consolidate traditional and next-generation financial businesses under one entity within the KDDI Group, pending regulatory review.

Japan has maintained a regulated crypto market for years, and Coincheck has operated as a licensed exchange since the sector came under government oversight. The KDDI alliance offers Coincheck a direct channel into tens of millions of households already using KDDI’s financial products.

Coincheck Group shares climbed between 25% and 35% intraday on May 12, following the announcement. The following day, Coincheck shares are down 7% as of Tuesday afternoon, just before 12 p.m. ET. KDDI does not plan to consolidate Coincheck Group as a subsidiary. Coincheck Group will remain a consolidated subsidiary of Monex Group and will not become an equity-method affiliate of KDDI.

Coincheck Group also released fiscal year 2026 financial results alongside the announcement, reporting revenue of 480,244 million yen, up from the prior year, with a narrowed net loss. Au Coincheck Digital Assets, Inc. is based in Minato-ku, Tokyo, and began operations following investment finalization in December 2025.