Japan stablecoin payments advance with Lawson trial, Netstars launch

COINTELEGRAPH ·

Japanese convenience-store operator Lawson plans to test yen-denominated stablecoin payments at a Tokyo location in August, examining whether stablecoin payments can work inside a standard convenience store checkout flow. On Monday, blockchain company HashPort said it had signed an agreement with Lawson and telecom group KDDI to conduct the trial at the Lawson Takanawa Gateway City store. Participants will use HashPort's non-custodial wallet, while the store will process payments through the company's point-of-sale system without needing to open or manage crypto wallets. The pilot aims to explore how stablecoin payments can be integrated into Japan’s existing retail infrastructure while shielding merchants from much of the operational complexity associated with accepting digital assets. The companies plan to assess integration requirements, checkout operations, payment processing times and wallet usability before considering broader applications. Separately, Japanese payments company Netstars launched Stablecoin Pay on Monday, opening applications from merchants seeking to accept multiple stablecoins as payment options. The service initially supports USDC, USDT and the yen-denominated JPYC through the Solana and Polygon networks, with MetaMask as the supported wallet. Netstars set the merchant payment fee at 0.98% and said it plans to add more wallets and blockchains. With the service, merchants can use existing payment terminals in most cases and handle product pricing, sales records and settlement in yen, even when customers pay with dollar-denominated stablecoins. Netstars said this removes the need to hold crypto or manage exchange rates. The commercial launch follows Netstars trials involving USDC payments at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport from January to February and at a trading-card store in Himeji from April. Related: Japanese lender launches Bitcoin-backed loans of up to $6.2M The move from limited pilots to a merchant-facing service comes as Japanese companies build more consumer-facing products around the country’s regulated stablecoin market. On June 1, 2023, Japan introduced a dedicated framework for stablecoins when amendments to the Payment Services Act and related laws took effect. The rules created regulatory categories for fiat-linked stablecoins and require businesses acting as intermediaries to register with the Financial Services Agency. The framework was followed by regulatory approval for USDC distribution in March 2025 and by JPYC’s registration as a fund transfer service provider that August, before the stablecoin was launched in October . Magazine: Has Bitcoin bottomed for this cycle? Analysts say 'not yet'

AI 시장 분석

Japanese convenience store chain Lawson and payment platform Netstars have officially launched pilot tests for stablecoin payments. This move, aligned with regulatory easing by Japanese financial authorities, signals an acceleration in the adoption of digital assets for real-world transactions. Investors should closely monitor how changes in Japan's payment infrastructure will impact the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies.

상승 영향

DYAX 전담 분석

The collaboration between Lawson and Netstars marks a pivotal moment for Japan's digital economy. By integrating stablecoin payments into a major retail environment, the initiative bridges the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology. This pilot reflects a broader national strategy to modernize payment systems and reduce transaction costs.

Furthermore, the regulatory support from Japanese authorities suggests a favorable environment for digital asset innovation. As adoption gains traction, it is expected to create a robust demand for stablecoin infrastructure, potentially influencing global trends in retail crypto integration.

AI가 생성한 분석으로 투자 자문이 아닙니다.

DYAX Investor Sentiment

Bullish (Long) 43% · Bearish (Short) 57%

380 participants

Related News

원문 보기 — COINTELEGRAPH