It's now possible to pay with stablecoins when visiting Japan for the New Year! Japan's Netstars has partnered with Haneda Airport to pilot USDC payments, allowing travelers to scan QR codes with the MetaMask wallet at designated stores.
Some stores at Haneda Airport are testing USDC payments, supporting MetaMask QR Code payments
Japanese digital payment company Netstars announced that it has partnered with Japan Airport Terminal Co., Ltd. to conduct a pilot experiment of USDC dollar stablecoin payments from January 26, 2026, to February 28, 2026, at Haneda Airport.
The pilot is conducted in two stores within Terminal 3 of Haneda Airport, specifically "Edo Shokujinkan (Era Hall)," which sells well-known souvenirs like Tokyo Banana, and "Edo Event Hall," targeting tourists seeking duty-free items.
Netstars is responsible for building the payment gateway and has co-developed the application with blockchain company WEA JAPAN. Consumers only need to generate a QR code for payment via MetaMask (the fox wallet), scan it at the store terminal, and the $USDC will be deducted automatically.
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Image source: Official press release, Haneda Airport store USDC stablecoin payment process (translated by Crypto City, modified by Gemini)
Why use Solana and QR Code? What if errors occur?
In an interview with CoinPost, the Netstars team explained that the reason for choosing the Solana blockchain as the settlement foundation is its extremely fast transaction processing speed and shorter wallet addresses, which effectively shorten checkout times at counters.
For retail scenarios, payment speed directly impacts customer experience, so they chose Solana for its high throughput. Additionally, the QR code scanning mode is familiar to consumers (CPM mode), lowering the barrier to use.
The pilot also considers the convenience for overseas customers. The system supports an English interface within MetaMask and has introduced an automatic exchange rate display feature, allowing travelers to see the current USD to JPY exchange rate during payment, making the transaction more transparent. Photos shared from the official source show promotional posters outside the stores, with Chinese text: "USDC accepted here," along with clear instructions.
Image source: WEA JAPAN, Haneda Airport store USDC stablecoin payment现场照片
If an error occurs during payment, the store has an emergency mechanism. The system sets a 30-second transaction timeout; if payment is not completed within this period, the transaction will be automatically canceled, and an error message will be pushed in English to the user's phone, ensuring that high foot traffic at the airport does not delay counter service due to technical issues.
This is not limited to Haneda Airport; plans are underway to expand to more retail scenarios
Although feedback from overseas travelers has not yet been received, some Japanese consumers have expressed interest in stablecoin payments. Netstars hopes to improve the user interface based on feedback from the pilot and plans to promote this mechanism to more retail environments.
Since traditional credit card settlements often take weeks to process, stablecoins can facilitate instant fund transfers via blockchain, which could be a significant advantage for small and medium-sized retailers that prioritize cash flow.
Japan has already been deeply exploring stablecoin pilot programs
Japan has been actively testing stablecoin payments for some time. In 2024, Japanese blockchain startup a42x conducted a similar experiment in the Yamagoshi area of Niigata Prefecture.
Their Myna Wallet combined Japan’s national ID card (My Number Card) with account abstraction technology, simplifying the complex private key management process. Even elderly users unfamiliar with tech products could complete $USDC payments through simple NFC contactless operations.
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This demonstrates Japan’s industry efforts to lower the barriers to Web3 payments, from testing among various age groups in rural areas to cross-border payment applications at international airports today.
Image source: a42x official press release, Japan’s crypto wallet Myna Wallet integrated with ID card for one-click USDC payment
USDC is now compliant in Japan, expanding the digital financial ecosystem
The payment application at Haneda Airport is based on the compliance of $USDC in Japan. As previously reported by Crypto City, $USDC issuer Circle obtained approval from Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) last year, becoming the first regulated dollar stablecoin circulating under Japan’s regulatory framework, enabling $USDC to be listed on major Japanese exchanges such as SBI VC Trade, Binance Japan, bitbank, and bitFlyer.
With Japan lifting restrictions on overseas-issued stablecoins and regulated exchanges providing liquidity support, physical payment scenarios like Haneda Airport are expected to continue expanding, further connecting traditional finance with the digital economy.
