Softbank's PayPay Shows How AI Is Reshaping Digital Payments
IBM, September 16,2025
There is a new name to watch in the digital payments marketplace: PayPay. In August, Japanese banking giant SoftBank announced it had 'confidentially submitted' an application for a US IPO for its payment platform.
What makes PayPay a serious contender-even among the likes of Apple Pay, PayPal and Venmo-is its advanced AI capabilities, according to Kamini Belday, a Strategic Growth Leader for AI, Payments and Service Alliances at IBM.
Belday told IBM Think that PayPay is a smart bet on SoftBank's part, given its AI track record. 'There is always room for platforms that solve real pain points with precision,' she said. 'The platforms that master AI will reduce fraud losses, expand credit access and deepen customer loyalty through personalization. What SoftBank is attempting with PayPay isn't just market entry - it's ecosystem disruption.'