Japan Bitcoin Industry Co., Ltd. introduced Aurora, a self-custodial Bitcoin payments platform, at the Bitcoin Asia conference in Hong Kong. The product is aimed at helping Japanese businesses sell anime, manga, games, and related content to overseas fans. According to the company, the overseas market for Japanese anime content reached JPY 2.17 trillion in 2024, up 26% year over year, while conventional payment systems often exclude international consumers. Aurora lets customers pay in Bitcoin over the Lightning Network and gives merchants a simple point-of-sale interface and an API layer for invoice management, payment tracking, and integrations. JBI said the platform is built around a core principle that the company does not touch funds. Each merchant runs its own self-hosted Lightning node and receives Bitcoin directly from customers, a structure the company said gives merchants a clearer regulatory basis. JBI added that Aurora draws on experience from its existing consumer business, UseBitcoin.jp, which has allowed customers to buy digital gift cards such as au PAY, V-Preca, and Kyash over the Lightning Network for the past two years. The company invited media, prospective merchants, and wallet providers to connect with the team at Bitcoin Asia in Hong Kong in 2026.
Japan Bitcoin Industry Co., Ltd. launched Aurora, a self-custodial Bitcoin payments platform, at the Bitcoin Asia conference in Hong Kong. The platform is designed to help Japanese businesses sell anime, manga, games, and other content to international fans.
A cross-border payments tool for Japanese content sellers
The company said the overseas market for Japanese anime content reached JPY 2.17 trillion in 2024, a 26% increase from a year earlier, but traditional payment systems often keep overseas consumers out.
Aurora allows international customers to pay with Bitcoin through the Lightning Network. It also provides Japanese merchants with a simple point-of-sale system and an API layer for invoice management, payment tracking, and integrations.
Merchants run their own Lightning nodes
JBI said a core design principle behind Aurora is that the company does not handle customer funds. Each merchant runs its own self-custodial Lightning Network node and receives Bitcoin directly from customers. According to the company, that structure gives merchants a clearer regulatory basis.
Built from UseBitcoin.jp operating experience
JBI said Aurora draws on lessons from its existing consumer-facing business, UseBitcoin.jp. Over the past two years, that service has allowed customers to use the Lightning Network to purchase digital gift cards, including au PAY, V-Preca, and Kyash.
The company also invited media, prospective merchants, and wallet providers to contact the team at Bitcoin Asia in Hong Kong in 2026.
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