Digital Wallet Corporation

What Digital Wallet Corporation does

Digital Wallet Corporation is a Tokyo-headquartered fintech company founded in 2014 by former Sony Corporation designers and engineers (led by CEO Eiji Miyakawa) that operates Smiles Mobile Remittance, positioned as Japan's number-one mobile international money transfer service. The company serves migrant worker communities — primarily Filipino (OFWs), Indonesian, Vietnamese, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationals — sending remittances from Japan and other origin countries to family members in 200 destination countries, with 600K+ cash pickup locations globally and direct real-time crediting to partner bank accounts. As of 2026, operations span nine send-countries (Japan, Philippines, Canada, Singapore, the United States, Vietnam, Indonesia, Nepal and Bangladesh) through wholly-owned subsidiaries and licensed entities, with a US launch on 2026-06-17 targeting a 51.9 million-migrant addressable market.

The technical platform combines AI, cloud, facial-recognition-based eKYC and mobile applications to deliver what the company describes as Japan's first AI-driven eKYC system in a mobile remittance app, with real-time 15-minute transaction processing, 24/7 availability, multilingual support and an integrated Smiles loyalty/referral points program. Distribution is anchored by flagship banking partnerships — Philippine National Bank, Agribank Vietnam (2,233 branches), Sacombank-SBR, Mutual Trust Bank Bangladesh, Asia United Bank — supplemented by Japan Post Bank (31,200+ ATMs) and AEON Bank ATM card integrations for cash funding, plus the Ria Financial Services network for global cash pickup. Adjacent offerings include the AEON Bank ATM Card, the Smiles Premium (One Million Yen Remittance) Card, and the JFIA 2026 award-winning TAX REFUND JAPAN digital platform for inbound tourist tax refunds.

The business model is transaction-fee-based on cross-border remittances, with ancillary revenue from premium card services, bill payment integration (SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth via Ventaja International) and tax-refund processing. Go-to-market is hybrid: mobile-app-led product-led growth with self-serve registration, layered with community-led marketing through diaspora festival sponsorships, Filipino celebrity brand ambassadors, country-specific Facebook pages, and CSR programs (the 'One Million Smiles' annual donation campaign). The company holds multiple regulatory licenses — Kanto Local Financial Bureau remittance registration (No. 00044), MAS cross-border money transfer license (Singapore), FINTRAC registration (Canada), and MSB licenses across 18+ US states. Ownership is founder-controlled via holding entity Digital Wallet Group with no disclosed external venture or institutional capital to date.

Name

Digital Wallet Corporation

Legal name

Digital Wallet Corporation

Website

https://digitalwallet.global

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Digital Wallet Corporation, founded in Tokyo in 2014, operates Smiles Mobile Remittance — Japan's number-one mobile international money transfer service — serving Filipino, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Nepali and Bangladeshi migrant workers across nine send-countries and 200 destination countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile International Remittance

NAICS

Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (52232)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Currency Accounts, Wallets & IBAN Services (FSAMAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

International / Multi-Currency Wallets (FSAMAEAL), Loyalty, Points Currency & Stored Value Payments (THALAHAK)

Keywords

• Mobile remittance services
• Cross-border money transfers
• Digital wallet platform
• AI-powered fintech
• International money transfers

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. International Remittance Transaction Fees: Core revenue from processing international money transfers. Users pay transaction fees for each remittance. Fees are offset by earned loyalty points from the Smiles loyalty program. Premium members (Smiles Premium Card holders) can remit up to 1 million yen per transaction.
2. Smiles Premium Card: Premium membership card (AEON Bank ATM Card partnership) enabling card-based remittance without mobile app. Generates revenue through premium service fees and card-related charges.
3. Loyalty Points System: Customers earn recurring loyalty points on every transaction and shokai (referral) points from transactions of referred users. Points can be redeemed to pay for remittance fees, creating recurring engagement and customer retention.
4. Bills Payment Services: Partnership with Ventaja International enabling SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth contributions and other Philippine-based merchant payments, generating revenue through transaction processing fees.
5. TAX REFUND JAPAN Platform: Digital tax refund platform for international visitors in Japan, enabling refunds through bank transfers, mobile wallet credits, and credit card payouts. Supports Japanese retailers with tax-exempt system reforms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Digital Wallet Corporation operates Smiles Mobile Remittance, a mobile-first AI-driven international money transfer service that enables users to send real-time cross-border remittances to bank accounts or cash pickup locations across 200 countries. The platform combines facial recognition-based eKYC identity verification, 24/7 processing, multilingual support, and a loyalty points/referral system, with funding via mobile app, Japan Post Bank ATMs (31,200+), or AEON Bank ATMs (6,000+). Adjacent offerings include TAX REFUND JAPAN for tourist tax-free shopping refunds and bill payment services for Philippine SSS, Pag-IBIG, and PhilHealth contributions.

Product overview

Digital Wallet Corporation operates a fintech platform centered on Smiles Mobile Remittance, Japan's leading mobile international money transfer service. The platform combines AI and fintech technology to enable real-time cross-border money transfers. Adjacent offerings include the TAX REFUND JAPAN platform for tourist tax refunds, and ATM card products (AEON Bank ATM Card and Smiles Premium Card) that integrate with Japan Post Bank and AEON Bank networks for cash deposits and remittances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Smiles Mobile Remittance: Japan's number one mobile international money transfer service, allowing users to send money worldwide using AI and facial recognition technology. Features real-time remittance, loyalty points program, and multilingual support. Has achieved over 1 million downloads.

Products and services

• Smiles Mobile Remittance Mobile-first international money transfer service allowing users to send real-time cross-border remittances via iOS/Android app, with AI-driven eKYC and facial recognition for secure self-registration, 15-minute cash pickup at 600K+ global locations, and Smiles loyalty/referral points earned on every transaction.
• TAX REFUND JAPAN Digital tax refund platform for international visitors in Japan, enabling tax-free shopping refunds through bank transfers, mobile wallet credits, and credit card payouts, supporting Japanese retailers with tax-exempt system reforms.
• AEON Bank ATM Card Co-branded ATM card enabling Smiles Mobile Remittance users to deposit funds at approximately 6,000 AEON Bank ATMs nationwide in Japan, with funds automatically credited to the user's Smiles virtual wallet account.
• Smiles Premium Card (One Million Yen Remittance Card) Premium remittance card issued with Japan Post Bank, programmed with beneficiary account information, enabling premium members to remit up to 1 million yen per transaction using 31,200+ Japan Post Bank ATMs nationwide.
• Smiles Bill Payments (SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth via Ventaja) Bills payment service enabling Smiles users in Japan to pay Philippine government contributions (SSS, Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth) and other merchant bills through integration with Ventaja International.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97%+ repeat customer ratio indicating high satisfaction and loyalty
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Philippine National Bank (PNB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 July 2025Strategic alliance combining Digital Wallet's advanced technology and customer-focused service design with PNB's expansive network and deep understanding of the Filipino market. Partnership enhances global fintech services for Filipinos and provides long-term support to overseas Filipino workers and their families. Launched real-time crediting to PNB accounts in June 2026.
• KataribaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2022CSR partnership with Japanese non-profit offering learning opportunities for children born in diverse environments. Donation to Katariba's 'Global Roots' program helping high school students with foreign roots. Digital Wallet team participates in Global Roots activities.
• Mutual Trust Bank Limited (MTB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2021Partnership with one of Bangladesh's best performing banks to expand remittance service to Bangladeshi customers in Japan. Enables cash pickup at 112 MTB branches in 36 districts and credit to any Bangladesh bank account.
• RediMoney Express Pte Ltd (REPL)flagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 31 August 2021Digital Wallet Group acquired Singapore-based licensed remittance and forex company RediMoney Express from Asia United Bank. Acquisition approved by Monetary Authority of Singapore. Enables Digital Wallet to expand Smiles service in Asia Pacific and serve more customers in Singapore market. Renamed Digital Wallet Singapore Pte Ltd.
• Agribank (Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 July 2021Strategic partnership with one of Vietnam's Big Four state-owned commercial banks. Agribank has 2,233 branches in 63 provinces, making Smiles the only remittance company in Japan with the largest number of pickup locations in Vietnam. API connection enables 24/7 cash pickup or bank account crediting including weekends and holidays.
• Japan Post BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 July 2020Partnership for Smiles Premium Card (One Million Yen Remittance Card) enabling transfers up to 1 million yen per transaction using 31,200+ Japan Post Bank ATM locations nationwide.
• AEON BankcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 April 2020Partnership for AEON Bank ATM Card enabling Smiles users to deposit funds from 6,000+ AEON Bank ATMs nationwide in Japan. Card issued by AEON Bank for customers to fund virtual wallet accounts.
• Cashway Money Transfer Private LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 August 2019Partnership with Nepal-based remittance company for launching direct remittance services from Japan to Nepal. Responds to growing Nepal user base with native language support.
• Sacombank-SBRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partnership since 2018 with Sacombank-SBR, one of the largest banks in Vietnam, offering best remittance experience for Vietnamese remitting from Japan. Joint CSR donations for typhoon relief (Super Typhoon Noru).
• Ria Financial ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 September 2017Global remittance network partnership expanding Smiles service to 287,000 locations in 147 countries and territories. Euronet Worldwide subsidiary provides global cash pickup infrastructure.
• Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 June 2017Initial launch partner for Smiles Remit&Pay service. DBP EC Remit complements Smiles services in Philippines with 3,000+ cash pickup locations including Cebuana Lhuillier and MLhuillier pawnshops.
• Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 June 2017Banking partner for delivering remittances to beneficiaries in the Philippines through Smiles platform.
• Landbank of the PhilippinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 22 June 2017Banking partner for delivering remittances to beneficiaries in the Philippines through Smiles platform.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Western Union: Largest incumbent global money transfer operator with the broadest agent network and brand recognition. Competes with Smiles on the same corridors (especially Japan-Philippines) but at much larger scale with both digital and retail channels.
• PayPal Xoom: PayPal-owned digital remittance service with global reach across the same corridors Smiles serves. Competes on mobile-first cross-border transfers with the backing of PayPal's brand and balance sheet.
• MoneyGram: Major global money transfer operator with extensive agent network across emerging markets. Overlaps with Smiles on cross-border remittance corridors and cash pickup infrastructure.

Emerging players

• Revolut: Global digital banking and multi-currency wallet with growing remittance capabilities. Comparable on multi-currency wallet infrastructure and digital-first financial services, though remittance is one of many products rather than the core focus.
• DeeMoney: Thai-headquartered digital remittance fintech serving Southeast Asian corridors including Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia. Comparable as a smaller regional digital remittance peer targeting the same diaspora segments.

Direct peers

• Wise (TransferWise): Global money transfer and multi-currency wallet platform with mid-market FX rates and a tech-first approach. Comparable on cross-border remittance, multi-currency accounts, and digital wallet infrastructure.
• Remitly: US-headquartered mobile-first remittance company serving diaspora populations globally, including Philippines and other Asian corridors. Directly competes in mobile remittance to the same target segment with similar product-led growth model.
• Taptap Send: Mobile remittance app focused on diaspora corridors including Philippines, with no-fee transfers as a core proposition. Directly overlaps with Smiles on diaspora targeting and mobile-only distribution.
• WorldRemit: Global digital remittance platform serving senders from developed markets to recipients in emerging markets across Africa, Asia, and LATAM. Comparable in digital-first cross-border remittance model.

Regional players

• SBI Remit: Japanese-licensed remittance provider serving foreign workers in Japan, including Filipino and Vietnamese communities. Most direct Japan-domestic competitor to Smiles in the local market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SerbisyongSmiles
• Facebookfacebook.com/smilessingapore
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/digital-wallet-corporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Digital Wallet Corporation