Netstars launches multi-stablecoin merchant service as Lawson pilots yen payments

Japanese payments company Netstars has launched Stablecoin Pay, a merchant service supporting USDC, USDT and the yen-pegged JPYC, as convenience-store chain Lawson prepares to pilot yen-denominated stablecoin payments at its Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo starting in August.

Both initiatives seek to simplify digital asset transactions without requiring merchants to navigate the technical complexities traditionally associated with cryptocurrency payments.

Lawson’s trial, scheduled to begin in August, will evaluate whether stablecoins can be seamlessly integrated into everyday retail purchases, while Netstars is opening its new payment platform to merchants nationwide with support for multiple regulated stablecoins.

Lawson to test Yen stablecoin payments in Tokyo

Lawson, one of Japan’s largest convenience store chains, will conduct its pilot at the Lawson Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo.

The initiative is being developed through a partnership between blockchain infrastructure company HashPort, Lawson and Japanese telecommunications giant KDDI. According to HashPort, customers participating in the pilot will make payments using the company’s non-custodial wallet, while the retailer will process transactions directly through its existing point-of-sale infrastructure.

The design of the trial deliberately shields merchants from the operational burden typically associated with accepting digital assets. Store operators will not need to create or manage cryptocurrency wallets, allowing the payment experience to resemble conventional electronic payment systems.

The companies will evaluate several operational factors during the pilot, including payment processing speed, checkout efficiency, wallet usability and the technical requirements needed to integrate stablecoin payments into existing retail systems.

The broader objective is to determine whether blockchain-based payments can function reliably within Japan’s high-volume retail environment without disrupting customer experience.

HashPort has previously emphasized that simplifying blockchain technology for businesses is essential to achieving widespread digital asset adoption. The company has been actively involved in advancing Web3 infrastructure across Japan through tokenization and blockchain development initiatives.

Netstars stablecoin pay brings multi-stablecoin acceptance to merchants

At the same time, Netstars stablecoin pay is entering the commercial market with a service that enables businesses to accept multiple stablecoins using their existing payment infrastructure.

Initially, the platform supports Circle’s USDC, Tether’s USDT and Japan’s yen-backed JPYC across the Solana and Polygon blockchain networks. Customers will initially make payments using MetaMask, although Netstars says support for additional wallets and blockchain networks will be introduced in future updates.

Merchants using Netstars stablecoin pay will pay a transaction fee of 0.98%. Importantly, businesses can continue displaying prices, maintaining accounting records and settling transactions entirely in Japanese yen, even when customers pay with U.S. dollar-denominated stablecoins.

That approach removes one of the major barriers to crypto payment adoption by eliminating the need for merchants to hold digital assets or actively manage foreign exchange fluctuations.

The commercial rollout builds on several successful pilot programs completed earlier this year. Netstars tested USDC payments at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport between January and February before conducting another trial at a trading card store in Himeji during April.

The transition from controlled testing to a merchant-facing commercial service suggests growing confidence that stablecoin payment systems are becoming practical for broader retail deployment.

Japan’s regulatory framework continues to drive stablecoin innovation 

The emergence of Netstars stablecoin pay comes against the backdrop of one of the world’s most comprehensive regulatory frameworks for stablecoins.

Japan became the first major economy to establish dedicated legal rules governing fiat-backed stablecoins when amendments to the Payment Services Act and related legislation took effect on June 1, 2023.

The revised framework introduced specific legal categories for stablecoins backed by fiat currencies and required businesses acting as intermediaries in stablecoin transactions to register with the country’s Financial Services Agency (FSA).

Regulatory clarity has since encouraged financial institutions and payment companies to accelerate product development.

A significant milestone arrived in March 2025 when USDC received approval for distribution in Japan, making it one of the first foreign-issued stablecoins permitted under the country’s regulatory regime. Later that year, JPYC obtained registration as a fund transfer service provider before officially launching its regulated stablecoin service in October.

Industry leaders have consistently argued that regulatory certainty is critical to encouraging institutional participation in digital asset markets.

Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire has repeatedly said that clear rules help unlock broader adoption of regulated digital currencies by providing confidence to financial institutions and payment providers. Likewise, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has stated that stablecoins are increasingly becoming an essential component of global payment infrastructure.

Retail stablecoin adoption moves closer to reality

The simultaneous launch of Netstars stablecoin pay and Lawson’s upcoming checkout trial illustrates how Japan’s regulated stablecoin ecosystem is shifting from experimentation toward commercial implementation.

Unlike earlier blockchain payment initiatives that largely targeted cryptocurrency enthusiasts, these projects are designed to fit within familiar retail environments, allowing merchants to continue operating with traditional payment terminals and yen-based accounting systems.

If the Lawson pilot proves successful, it could offer a blueprint for broader deployment across Japan’s convenience store sector, one of the country’s most important retail channels.

Meanwhile, Netstars stablecoin pay provides merchants with an immediately available solution capable of accepting multiple stablecoins while minimizing operational complexity. As additional wallets and blockchain networks are added, the platform could expand its appeal across a wider range of retailers.

Together, these initiatives underscore Japan’s growing leadership in regulated digital payments. With legal certainty already established and commercial infrastructure steadily expanding, Netstars stablecoin pay and Lawson’s retail pilot may represent another important milestone in bringing stablecoin payments into everyday consumer transactions across one of the world’s most advanced payment markets.