Net Protections, Inc. (Headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Shin Shibata; “Net Protections”) has completed system integration with Boku, Inc. (Headquartered in California, USA; CEO: Stuart Neal; Japan Country Manager: Naoya Otsubo, “Boku”), the local payments partner for global commerce, and has launched full-scale service operations.
Through this integration, global merchants connected to Boku’s network can now easily implement Net Protections’s BNPL service “atone” via one single integration .
Background and Purpose: Enabling Integration via Global Standard Specifications
With the completion of system connectivity based on “global standard specifications,” aimed at supporting Net Protections’ international expansion, merchants around the world can now offer “atone” to users in Japan.
Boku’s network gives merchants access to over seven billion customer accounts across more than 60 countries, through payment methods including digital wallets, account-to-account schemes, buy-now-pay-later, and direct carrier billing – so local customers can pay through their existing preferred methods. Boku’s platform serves leading global merchants including world-renowned digital and entertainment businesses and holds a top-class global share in digital content and major streaming services.
In the Japanese market, there remains a significant segment of users who either do not own credit cards or prefer cash-based payments such as cash-on-delivery or convenience store prepayment—even if they have credit cards. This integration addresses the needs of global merchants seeking to adapt to Japan’s unique payment preferences.
Looking ahead, this “global standard specification” integration also paves the way for future partnerships involving “AFTEE,” which is deployed in Taiwan and Vietnam.
Value Delivered by the Integration
1. Benefits for Merchants: Improved Retention and Reduced Collection Risk
Traditional prepaid or stored-value payment methods often face challenges with failed subscription renewals due to insufficient balance. With “atone,” a BNPL model allows seamless recurring billing without concerns about balance shortages, contributing to improved customer retention.
Additionally, this marks Boku’s first integration with a Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) solution, significantly expanding its range of available payment options.
2. Benefits for Users: Convenient and Secure Payments Without Credit Cards
Even users without a credit card can easily access services such as streaming platforms using only a phone number and password. Payments can be settled collectively in the following month at convenience stores and other locations, making financial management simple and convenient.
Future Outlook
Through a strong partnership with Boku, Net Protections will continue to deliver highly convenient payment experiences tailored to Japanese users while supporting global businesses entering the Japanese market. Starting with major video streaming services, Net Protections plans to accelerate expansion into digital content sectors (non-physical goods), including sports streaming and online gaming.
About atone
atone is a Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) service available for both online and in-store purchases. Users can complete their purchases immediately and pay later without registering a bank account, credit card, or adding funds. For merchants, atone helps reduce cart abandonment by making checkout easier for customers who might otherwise leave without completing their purchase. In physical stores, atone supports cashless payments even for customers who have credit cards but prefer not to use them. Additionally, atone’s reward points program makes it easier for merchants to attract new customers and encourage repeat purchases. For more information about atone: https://atone.be/ (Japanese only)
About Boku
Boku is the local payments partner for global commerce. Through a single integration, merchants can access over seven billion customer accounts across more than 60 countries, through payment methods including digital wallets, account-to-account schemes, buy-now-pay-later, and direct carrier billing. Boku pairs that network with cross-border money movement, embedded bundling, and the licensing and operational infrastructure to help merchants acquire and retain customers in markets where they have no local presence.
Boku's platform serves leading global merchants including Spotify, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, and Tencent. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in London, Boku is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (BOKU).
About Net Protections, Inc.
Company Name ：
Net Protections, Inc. (Net Protections Holdings, Inc.
([Code: 7383, the Prime Market of the Tokyo Stock Exchange] Group)
Representative ：Shin Shibata, CEO
Website ：https://corp.netprotections.com/
Business Description：Provision of Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services
Founded：January, 2000
Capital JPY 100 million
Head Office：Sumitomo Fudosan Kojimachi First Building 5th Floor, 4-2-6 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
About Boku, Inc.
Company Name：Boku, Inc.
Representative：
Stuart Neal, CEO/Naoya Otsubo, Japan Country Manager
URL：https://www.boku.com/
Direct any inquiries regarding this release to:
Net Protections PR
Email: pr@netprotections.co.jp
