DLsite launches payment system after Visa, Mastercard block
Japanese digital platform DLsite has rolled out its own payment system after facing restrictions from major credit card firms Visa and Mastercard over adult-themed content.
DLsite, a popular distributor of games and doujinshi in Japan, announced the launch of “Minna no Ginko Payment”, a new in-house payment service linked with Japan’s Minna no Ginko bank. The move comes after Visa and Mastercard suspended their services for the platform in July, citing violations of their service policies.
Back in July, both Visa and Mastercard pressured online platforms to remove adult-rated titles or face termination of payment services. Steam stores were forced to pull more than 100 titles from its catalogue, sparking criticism from gamers, LGBTQQIP2SA communities and game developers who accused the firms of censorship and financial interference.
Although Visa and Mastercard later denied direct involvement in the pressure campaign, the incident alarmed credit card users who feared financial institutions were intruding on personal transactions. The controversy grew so widespread that then United States President Donald Trump issued a White House statement prohibiting financial institutions from rejecting transactions based solely on ideological grounds.
During the period of restriction, only Japan’s JCB credit cards continued to work on DLsite’s platform. The company had earlier attempted to adjust its content categorisation and terminology to meet payment providers’ guidelines, but those measures were deemed insufficient.
The disruption eventually prompted DLsite’s parent companies, viviON and Eisys, to introduce their own alternative. With Minna no Ginko Payment, users can now link their Minna no Ginko bank account directly to their viviON account, bypassing third-party payment providers entirely.
DLsite has also rolled out discounts and special rewards to encourage users to adopt the new system. However, the service will initially be available only to customers within Japan, as Minna no Ginko does not currently allow account openings from abroad. The platform also warns that its banking app may not function properly outside Japan.
The launch marks a significant shift for DLsite as it seeks to reduce reliance on international financial networks and maintain control over transactions involving adult content.
Source – Bangkok News
