Lawson begins JPYC stablecoin payment pilot at Tokyo store, partnering with KDDI and HashPort to evaluate regulated retail payments efficiently. JPYC entered Japan’s regulated stablecoin mark
Lawson will begin testing stablecoin payments at its Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo from early August, bringing regulated digital assets into everyday retail purchases. The pilot will allow customers to pay with the yen-backed JPYC stablecoin through a collaboration involving KDDI and crypto wallet provider HashPort.
The proof-of-concept will examine how stablecoin payments perform in a real retail environment. Customers will complete transactions using HashPort’s wallet infrastructure, while KDDI supports the initiative as part of its broader digital finance strategy. Consequently, the trial could offer valuable insights into how consumers interact with regulated digital assets at the checkout.
Lawson ranks as Japan’s third-largest convenience store chain behind Seven-Eleven and FamilyMart. The company operates 14,697 stores across the country and reported more than 3.02 trillion yen, or approximately $18.68 billion, in net sales during the 2026 fiscal year. Therefore, even a single-store pilot has the potential to generate meaningful operational data before any wider rollout.
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JPYC entered the market last October as Japan’s first registered yen-denominated stablecoin under the country’s updated regulatory framework. Japan introduced licensing requirements for stablecoin issuers in 2023, requiring companies to satisfy reserve and compliance standards before offering such products.
The stablecoin maintains a one-to-one peg with the Japanese yen. Additionally, JPYC Inc. backs every issued token with reserves consisting of yen deposits and Japanese government bonds. The company states that this reserve model complies with Japan’s Payment Services Act and supports redemption at face value.
JPYC also operates across several blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Avalanche, Polygon, and Kaia. As a result, businesses and developers can integrate the stablecoin into different blockchain ecosystems while maintaining the same underlying value.
JPYC has expanded its footprint beyond stablecoin issuance as adoption rises across Japan’s digital asset sector. Last week, the company announced that its on-chain circulation surpassed 2 billion yen, or roughly $12.36 million. That milestone reflects increasing activity surrounding regulated stablecoins within the domestic market.
Moreover, JPYC recently joined Metaplanet and Progmat in a collaborative study focused on digital credit. The project explores how Bitcoin, stablecoins, and security tokens could support future financial infrastructure and settlement systems across Japan’s digital economy.
The Lawson pilot also adds another real-world payment use case for regulated stablecoins beyond cryptocurrency trading. Furthermore, the initiative could help participating companies evaluate transaction efficiency, customer adoption, and operational requirements before considering broader commercial deployment.
Lawson’s JPYC payment pilot highlights Japan’s measured approach toward integrating regulated stablecoins into everyday commerce. The initiative also demonstrates how retailers and technology firms are exploring practical digital payment solutions within an established regulatory framework.
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