Japanese convenience store operator Lawson will test payments with the yen-denominated JPYC stablecoin in early August.
Summary
- Lawson will connect JPYC payments directly to its POS system during a single-store Tokyo trial.
- Customers will scan mobile wallet barcodes, while HashPort updates balances using verified checkout transaction data.
- Japan’s megabanks are also preparing yen stablecoins, widening competition across regulated digital payment networks nationwide.
The company will run the trial at its Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo’s Minato Ward. HashPort, a digital asset wallet provider, will support the payment system and process balance changes linked to purchases.
Lawson described the project as Japan’s “first” stablecoin payment trial connected directly to a point-of-sale system. That claim comes from the company and the test has not yet started. Lawson has not announced a chainwide launch.
It will decide on wider use after checking system stability and transaction speed. The company will also review whether the process fits normal store operations without slowing customers or adding extra work for employees during busy periods.
How the POS-integrated payment will work
Customers will open a supported mobile wallet and display a barcode on their phones. A Lawson employee will scan the barcode with the store’s existing POS terminal. HashPort will then use the payment information to update the customer’s JPYC balance. The process keeps the checkout within Lawson’s current store system.
The POS link will also allow Lawson to manage purchase details, including product quantities and payment times, alongside its usual sales data. The trial will measure how reliably the systems connect and how long each payment takes.
Customers will use stablecoins at checkout, but staff will still handle the scan through the normal sales terminal. Lawson can compare the stablecoin flow with card and QR payments, including processing steps, error handling and the time needed to finish each sale.
JPYC moves into everyday retail
JPYC Inc. began issuing JPYC on October 27, 2025. The token tracks the Japanese yen and uses yen deposits and Japanese government bonds as reserve assets. As crypto.news reported, the stablecoin initially waived transaction fees and aimed to support payments and transfers under Japan’s regulated framework.
Lawson’s test follows smaller retail and service launches. Japanese okonomiyaki restaurant operator Chibo started accepting JPYC at selected stores in April, according to Financial News. Dental clinics in Tokyo and Chiba also plan to add JPYC payments with HashPort.
The Lawson trial differs because it links the stablecoin payment directly with a major retailer’s POS system. The report said stablecoins may offer merchants lower fees than cards or QR services, though Lawson has not released fee figures for this pilot.
Japan expands regulated stablecoin activity
Japan’s large banks are also preparing yen-based stablecoin services. MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Mizuho Bank plan to begin live transactions during fiscal 2026, which ends in March 2027. As crypto.news reported, the banks formed a council to develop shared rules for issuance, governance, systems and future participation.
Moreover, the banking project follows an FSA-backed test involving corporate cross-border payments and Progmat’s blockchain infrastructure. Japan has also opened regulated access to foreign stablecoins. Ripple and SBI launched the dollar-backed RLUSD through SBI VC Trade in June 2026 after approval from the Financial Services Agency.
