If payment options outside normal channels were so important why did they wait almost a decade?
He stated that they planned Proton Wallet a long time ago. Also I think it’s because of the audit problems they feared to have, since Bitcoin was for a long time synonymous with crime. That changed just a few years ago (for context 49:00).
I would considered it “disingenuous” if they stated that PayPay did it in bad faith. He just stated that, at the time, their only money flow was blocked and they didn’t want such a situation again. I interpreted that he didn’t want to be dependent on only state controlled financial institutions and wanted to make it easier for peoples to use something more financialy decentralized and locally independent.
I still recomend you listen through the whole thing, since they touch on other things too.
They explain that it was an accident. Opt Out Podcast - with the CEO of Proton Edit: 45:45 for whole conversation or 46:44 for specific bit
I would recommend you this interview with the CEO of Proton regarding Proton wallet, AI and more. Opt Out Podcast - with the CEO of Proton
Listen from 46:44 till 2min in.