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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Japan

4 months agoNews Editor

Japan completes first drone flight controlled directly through Starlink

Japanese telecom operator KDDI has completed what the report describes as Japan’s first drone flight controlled directly through Starlink, using the company’s au Starlink Direct service in an area without mobile network coverage. The test connected a Skydio X10 drone to satellite-based telemetry and flight control, and the company presented the result at MWC26 as part of a broader communications infrastructure showcase. According to the report, KDDI developed au Starlink Direct with SpaceX to use direct satellite links in places affected by terrain limits and cellular dead zones. The system is positioned not only for smartphones, but also for drones and IoT devices. KDDI said the setup could help remote operators monitor drone status and data in real time, including after disasters that damage ground base stations and disrupt terrestrial communications. The report also outlined a larger automation plan built around a dedicated drone dock for the Skydio X10. KDDI said the dock supports remote deployment, charging, and automated takeoff and landing, with a stated goal of getting a drone to any location in Japan within 10 minutes after an alert. At the same time, the article noted that wider commercial deployment remains subject to aviation rules, especially for beyond visual line of sight operations.

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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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Bit.Fan