SoftBank Group-backed PayPay, Japan’s largest smartphone payment service, and Seven & i Holdings, the parent company of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain, are in final negotiations to merge their customer loyalty programs. The integration of their customer data is expected to create a combined user base of approximately 100 million, positioning the partnership to challenge domestic competitors such as Rakuten and NTT Docomo.

Seven & i Holdings is also reportedly in talks to receive an investment from SoftBank Corp. and its affiliate PayPay, according to Nikkei Asia. This strategic move aims to strengthen their market position in Japan’s competitive digital payment and retail sectors.

The negotiations were reported on Thursday, July 23rd, 2026, in Tokyo, highlighting a significant development in Japan’s business economy.

Sources