Rakuten Supports Ukraine Defense Startups at DSEI Japan 2025, Signaling Shift in Corporate Involvement
Japanese e-commerce leader Rakuten, often called ’Japan’s Amazon’, has announced its backing for Ukrainian defense startups at DSEI Japan 2025, the country’s largest defense and security trade show. By collaborating with Brave 1, a Ukraine government-backed entity, Rakuten will provide a platform for six Ukrainian military tech startups—Dwarf Engineering LLC, FarsightVision LLC, Griselda, LifesaverSIM, Skyfall Industries LLC, and Swarmer—to showcase their innovations. Of special note is Skyfall Industries’ ’Vampire’ drone, praised for its efficiency. Despite public concern over corporate involvement in military matters, Rakuten’s leadership stated it does not plan immediate entry into the defense industry. This move comes amid rising state-corporate cooperation on security in Japan, highlighted by ongoing debates over ’Active Cyber Defense’ legislation. While this news marks a significant shift in Rakuten’s public image and Japan’s commercial-military ties, there is no direct mention of cryptocurrency activity or crypto market implications.
Neutral
The announcement of Rakuten supporting Ukrainian defense startups at a major military expo reflects a shift in corporate involvement in the defense sector but has no direct link to the cryptocurrency market or digital assets. As there is no immediate mention of blockchain, crypto partnerships, or market-facing financial technology in the announcement, this news is unlikely to trigger notable market volatility or influence crypto trading sentiment. Historically, unless corporate military involvement explicitly connects to crypto (such as defense contracts paid in cryptocurrency or blockchain-based defense tech), market impact remains neutral.