Japan’s Stablecoin Push: Lawson Tests JPYC, SBI Preps JPYSC Yield

Lawson, Japan’s third-largest convenience store chain, will test JPYC stablecoin payments at a Tokyo store in August, marking Japan’s first POS-integrated stablecoin payment test and a step toward integrating yen-backed digital currencies into everyday retail transactions.

The trial comes as SBI Group prepares to launch a yield-bearing JPYSC lending service, signaling accelerating momentum for yen-pegged stablecoins across Japan’s financial and retail sectors.

How the Lawson JPYC Trial Works

Lawson signed a basic agreement with telecommunications company KDDI and blockchain firm HashPort to test JPYC payments at a single store in Tokyo starting in August 2026

The pilot will be limited to employees of the three participating companies and will evaluate point-of-sale integration, checkout processing times, and mobile wallet usability

Customers will scan mobile wallet barcodes at checkout, while HashPort updates balances based on verified transaction data from the POS system

Lawson operates 14,697 stores nationwide and reported net sales of over $18.68 billion for fiscal year 2026

JPYC, issued by JPYC Inc., launched on October 27, 2025, as Japan’s first legally registered yen stablecoin under the Payment Services Act, and its on-chain circulation recently surpassed $12.36 million.

The retail trial follows another major milestone for the sector after Japan’s three megabanks — MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho — announced plans last month to begin live commercial transactions with a jointly issued stablecoin during fiscal year 2026.

SBI’s Broader Stablecoin Push

Accordingly, a major Japanese financial conglomerate, SBI Group, is reportedly preparing a new lending product that lets users earn a 3% annual yield on JPYSC, its yen-backed stablecoin.

According to a Nikkei report, the service, expected to launch through SBI VC Trade as early as this month, would offer a three-month fixed-term lending product

The initiative follows SBI’s recent launch of JPYSC, Japan’s first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin, as part of its broader strategy to expand digital asset-based financial services.

Why Japan’s Stablecoin Market Matters

Japan’s stablecoin sector is moving from regulatory groundwork toward real-world use, spanning institutional finance and everyday retail. The Lawson and SBI initiatives show how legally registered yen stablecoins are starting to integrate into Japan’s traditional economy.

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