Japan's Stablecoin Payments Accelerate with Lawson Trial and Netstars Launch

Japan is expanding its digital payment ecosystem with innovative steps. Lawson, one of the country's leading convenience store chains, is preparing to test payments with JPYC, a yen-denominated stablecoin, at its Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo in August. This trial aims to evaluate the potential for integrating stablecoins into traditional retail point-of-sale (POS) systems. Concurrently, Japanese payments company Netstars has commercially launched its "Stablecoin Pay" service, enabling merchants to easily accept digital assets such as USDC, USDT, and JPYC.

Lawson's pilot program will be conducted through blockchain company HashPort's non-custodial wallet and POS system. Customers will make payments by displaying a barcode on their smartphones, which store staff will scan using existing POS terminals. Telecommunications group KDDI and Canal Payment Service are also supporting this collaboration. The primary objective of the trial is to assess how stablecoin payments can be integrated into existing retail infrastructure, evaluating payment processing times and wallet usability, while shielding merchants from the operational complexities associated with accepting digital assets. This marks a significant milestone as it is reportedly Japan's first stablecoin payment trial directly integrated with a POS system.

Netstars' "Stablecoin Pay" service is now commercially available, allowing merchants to apply to accept multiple stablecoin payment options. The service initially supports USDC, USDT, and JPYC via the Solana and Polygon networks, with MetaMask as the supported wallet. The company has set the merchant payment fee at 0.98% and plans to add more wallets and blockchain networks. With this service, merchants can use existing payment terminals and handle product pricing, sales records, and settlement in yen, even when customers pay with dollar-denominated stablecoins, thereby eliminating the need to hold crypto or manage exchange rates. Prior to this commercial launch, Netstars successfully conducted trials involving USDC payments at Tokyo's Haneda Airport and a trading-card store in Himeji.

These developments follow Japan's establishment of a dedicated regulatory framework for stablecoins on June 1, 2023, through amendments to the Payment Services Act (PSA). This law created regulatory categories for fiat-linked stablecoins and requires businesses acting as intermediaries to register with the Financial Services Agency (FSA). JPYC was registered as a fund transfer service provider in August 2025 and launched in October 2025. JPYC operates as a regulated electronic payment instrument, backed 1:1 by yen deposits and Japanese government bonds.

Analysts and market observers note that these pilot programs and commercial launches represent crucial steps for the future of digital payments in Japan. Lawson's trial will demonstrate the efficiency and user-friendliness of stablecoins in daily retail transactions. Infrastructure provided by companies like Netstars aims to bridge the Web2 and Web3 financial worlds, bringing blockchain-based finance to real-world stores and services. Major Japanese banks, including MUFG, Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho, are also preparing to launch yen-based stablecoin services within fiscal year 2026, which is expected to boost competition and innovation in the sector. JPYC's ambitious goal of reaching ¥10 trillion (approximately $66 billion) in circulation within three years of its October 2025 launch underscores the market's confidence in this potential.