Why is Lawson testing stablecoin payments in Japan?

Lawson is testing yen stablecoin payments to see how they work in a normal convenience store. The trial will examine payment speed, checkout operations, and customer experience.

How will Lawson's stablecoin payment trial work?

Lawson will use HashPort's payment system and non-custodial wallet during the trial. Store staff will use existing checkout systems without managing cryptocurrency wallets.

What stablecoins does Netstars Stablecoin Pay support?

Netstars Stablecoin Pay supports USD Coin (CRYPTO:USDC), Tether (CRYPTO:USDT), and JPYC. The service initially operates on the Solana and Polygon blockchains.

How does Netstars Stablecoin Pay help merchants?

Netstars Stablecoin Pay lets merchants accept stablecoins while receiving settlements in Japanese yen. Businesses can also continue using their existing payment terminals.

Why is Japan expanding stablecoin payments?

Japan introduced a legal framework for stablecoins in 2023 to support regulated digital payments. Since then, the country has approved USDC distribution and the launch of JPYC, helping expand stablecoin use in retail.

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Japan expands stablecoin payments with retail trials

Written by Liezl GambePublished Jul 14, 2026, 1:50 AM

Lawson will test yen stablecoin payments at a Tokyo convenience store in August.
Netstars launched a payment service supporting USDC, USDT, and JPYC.
The projects aim to make stablecoin payments easier for Japanese retailers.

Lawson will test yen stablecoin payments at its Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo from August.

The trial will use HashPort's payment system and wallet, allowing customers to pay with stablecoins while store staff use existing checkout systems.

HashPort said the pilot will test payment speed, checkout operations, wallet usability, and system integration.

Netstars also launched Stablecoin Pay, a merchant service that supports USD Coin (CRYPTO:USDC), Tether (CRYPTO:USDT), and JPYC on the Solana and Polygon blockchains.

Netstars said merchants can keep using existing payment terminals and receive settlements in Japanese yen without holding cryptocurrency.

Japan introduced its stablecoin rules in 2023 and later approved the distribution of USDC and the launch of JPYC.

The latest launches show Japanese companies are expanding stablecoin payments from pilot projects into everyday retail services.

Japan expands stablecoin payments with retail trials

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