KDDI

2 months agoNews Editor

KDDI, auCoincheck launch αUwallet inside Japan’s au PAY app

Japanese telecom company KDDI, together with its subsidiary auCoincheckDigitalAssets and blockchain firm HashPort, launched the non-custodial crypto wallet αUwallet on Sept. 30 as a mini app inside the au PAY application, according to CoinPost. The wallet lets users convert Ponta points into cryptocurrencies or stablecoins. It also allows wallet assets to be topped up to an au PAY balance for use at participating merchants across Japan. At launch, the Ponta point conversion feature is capped at 300 points per month. The companies also plan to add staking support in winter 2026 for Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), Ether (ETH), and the yen-denominated stablecoin JPYC. The rollout ties a crypto wallet directly to an existing consumer payments app, combining loyalty points, digital assets, and retail spending within one service flow.

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Lawson

3 months agoNews Editor

Lawson store in Tokyo completes Japan’s first convenience-store JPYC stablecoin payment test

A Lawson convenience store in Tokyo completed what was described as Japan’s first in-store stablecoin payment test at a convenience store, using 322 yen worth of JPYC on Aug. 6. The payment took about five seconds from barcode scan to completion, and the printed receipt listed the payment method as “stablecoin.” The trial took place at a Lawson outlet in Takanawa Gateway City and settled on Polygon without any new hardware added to the existing POS terminal. The project was led by HashPort, with KDDI and Lawson participating under a basic agreement signed on July 10. On the customer side, the payment used HashPort Wallet, a non-custodial wallet. On the merchant side, HashPort Wallet for Biz was embedded into the store’s existing POS system, which meant the shop did not need to open or manage its own wallet. PAYTREE, a multi-code payment gateway operated by Canal Payment Service, handled the relay of payment data for balance verification and authorization before onchain settlement. The article said the Aug. 6 test was limited to employees of HashPort, KDDI and Lawson, so regular shoppers still cannot use JPYC at checkout. A second test phase is scheduled for Aug. 17 at Lawson Gate City Osaki Atrium, where MetaMask support will be added and accepted assets will expand to USDC and USDT.

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Lawson

3 months agoNews Editor

Tokyo Lawson tests 322-yen JPYC stablecoin payment through a standard store register

A Lawson convenience store in Tokyo processed a 322-yen payment in the yen stablecoin JPYC on Aug. 6 during a live demonstration reported by CoinPost. The purchase was made by reporter Ritsuki Kumazawa, and the printed receipt listed the payment method as “stablecoin.” The trial was run by Tokyo-based HashPort, with the customer presenting a barcode in the non-custodial HashPort Wallet and the store’s regular point-of-sale register scanning it. On the merchant side, acceptance was handled through HashPort Wallet for Biz embedded in the POS, so Lawson did not have to open or manage its own wallet. CoinPost said payment data moved through Canal Payment Service’s PAYTREE gateway before settlement on Polygon. The test was limited to trial participants rather than the general public. A second phase is scheduled for Aug. 17 at Lawson Gate City Osaki Atrium using MetaMask and supporting USDC, USDT and JPYC, while Lawson plans additional stablecoin trials later in August.

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Polygon

4 months agoNews Editor

Polygon Brings Kansai Electric Loyalty Points Onchain Through JPYC

Users of MOACT, a rewards app operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of Kansai Electric Power, can now convert NORM loyalty points into JPYC on Polygon, according to a Thursday press release from wallet developer HashPort. The feature went live on July 30 and moves points earned through social-impact missions in the app into users’ own HashPort Wallets, where they can connect to DeFi platforms. Previously, MOACT points could only be redeemed for electronic gift certificates. JPYC, issued by JPYC Inc., is described as Japan’s first regulated yen-pegged stablecoin and can be redeemed one-for-one for yen under the country’s Payment Services Act. The rollout adds to a broader push to bring Japan’s loyalty-point economy onchain. HashPort previously enabled Diners Club point conversions into JPYC on June 1 and launched an in-store yen stablecoin payment pilot with KDDI at Lawson stores on July 13. Polygon said it now handles more JPYC volume than all other chains combined, while 84% of JPYC holders use HashPort Wallet.

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stablecoin payments

4 months agoNews Editor 01

Japan Retail Stablecoin Push Expands as Lawson Tests Payments and Netstars Launches Merchant Service

Lawson, HashPort and KDDI have started a stablecoin payment pilot in Japan, while Netstars launched Stablecoin Pay for merchants with support for USDC, USDT and JPYC.

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Lawson

4 months agoNews Editor

Lawson to test yen stablecoin payments in August as Netstars opens merchant service

Lawson, the Japanese convenience store operator, plans to begin testing yen-denominated stablecoin payments in August at its Lawson Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo, according to a report cited by BlockBeats from Cointelegraph. The pilot will be carried out under an agreement involving HashPort, Lawson, and KDDI. Participants will use HashPort’s non-custodial wallet, while the store will process transactions through HashPort’s checkout system, meaning merchants do not need to open or manage a crypto wallet. Separately, Japanese payments company Netstars has launched Stablecoin Pay and is accepting applications from merchants that want to take multiple stablecoins. At launch, the service supports USDC, USDT, and the yen-denominated stablecoin JPYC on the Solana and Polygon networks. MetaMask is listed as the supported wallet, and the merchant payment fee is set at 0.98%. The update points to a broader push to bring stablecoin-based payments into retail and merchant checkout flows in Japan through existing payment infrastructure rather than direct wallet management by stores.

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Lawson

4 months agoNews Editor

Lawson to test JPYC stablecoin payments at POS terminal in Tokyo store this August

Lawson will begin a proof-of-concept test for JPYC stablecoin payments in early August at the Takanawa Gateway City store operated by KDDI, in partnership with HashPort, according to Techub News, citing CoinPost. Shoppers will pay by scanning a barcode from a mobile wallet at the point of sale. CoinPost said the trial marks the first time in Japan that a stablecoin has been linked directly with a POS system for in-store payments. The test is designed to check how well the POS integration works and how efficient the payment flow is in a retail setting. KDDI entered into a capital alliance with HashPort in October 2025 and holds more than a 20% stake. JPYC has previously been tested in settings including restaurants. Separately, three major banks including Mitsubishi UFJ are planning a joint stablecoin issuance in fiscal 2026.

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Lawson

4 months agoNews Editor

Lawson to test JPYC stablecoin payments through POS system at Tokyo store

Japanese convenience store chain Lawson will begin a pilot for JPYC, a yen-pegged stablecoin, at its Tokyo Gateway City store in early August, according to BlockBeats. The trial is being carried out with digital asset wallet provider Hashport. BlockBeats said the test marks the first experiment in Japan to connect stablecoin payments directly to a POS system. By linking the payment flow to the store’s existing point-of-sale setup, Lawson will be able to manage purchase data such as item counts and payment timing within its current store management system. The company plans to use the pilot to check how stable the POS integration is and how long real-world payments take. Lawson will decide whether to roll out the system more broadly only after reviewing those results.

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