They highlighted that stablecoins bring a wide range of benefits, including “reducing the burden of foreign exchange for incoming tourists, further improving the efficiency of fund settlement, and improving cash flow for merchants.”
Tourists in Japan primarily use bank cards to make payments, but there are spending limits that can be avoided with stablecoins, according to a Nikkei report.
The collaboration is part of a growing wave of stablecoin initiatives in Japan following regulatory changes that have opened the market to broader adoption. Circle has said it would partner with Nomura to develop a USDC-based currency settlement service for Japanese businesses starting in 2027.
Lawson, one of Japan’s largest convenience store chains, will accept stablecoins in its stores as part of a pilot starting in August, according to a separate Nikkei report. The retailer plans to begin trials at its Lawson Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo with telecom operator KDDI and digital asset wallet provider Hashport, using KDDI’s yen-denominated stablecoin, JPYC, according to the report.
