JPYC Retail Payments Pilot
Lawson Begins Japan's First POS-Linked JPYC Stablecoin Payment Trial in Tokyo
Key Points
KDDI, Japan’s second-largest telecom carrier, is participating in Lawson’s JPYC pilot alongside HashPort, signaling telecom-sector involvement in crypto payments.
Lawson operates about 14,697 stores nationwide, and the company has not announced a chainwide rollout; the JPYC pilot is confined to the Takanawa Gateway City store for now.
JPYC launched in October 2025 as Japan’s first registered yen stablecoin under a 2023 licensing regime; issuer JPYC Inc. backs all tokens with 100% reserves held in yen deposits and Japanese government bonds.
During the POS-linked trial, HashPort will update customer JPYC balances at checkout and Lawson’s system will feed purchase details and timing into its sales data, enabling assessment of reliability and transaction speed within the existing POS framework.
Japanese convenience store giant Lawson will begin accepting the yen stablecoin JPYC at one Tokyo store in early August, marking what the company calls Japan's first stablecoin payment trial linked directly to a point-of-sale system, according to Crypto News and The Block. The single-store pilot, located at the Takanawa Gateway City shop in Minato Ward, will test whether crypto payments can slot cleanly into everyday retail operations.
KDDI, Japan's second-largest telecom carrier, and blockchain firm HashPort are joining Lawson in the trial, according to Bloomingbit. If the test succeeds, it could open the door to stablecoin payments across Lawson's roughly 14,697 stores nationwide — though the company has made no such promise yet.
How the POS-Linked Payment System Actually Works
At checkout, customers will pay using a smartphone wallet loaded with JPYC. HashPort will update the customer's JPYC balance in real time. Lawson's POS system will log the purchase details and timing as part of its normal sales data stream, according to Crypto News.
The trial will measure three things: system stability, transaction speed, and how well JPYC payments fit into standard store operations. Lawson will review those results before deciding whether to expand the program, according to Finance Feeds.
JPYC: Japan's First Registered Yen Stablecoin Explained
JPYC launched in October 2025 as Japan's first yen stablecoin registered under a 2023 licensing law. Each token is pegged 1:1 to the yen. The issuer, JPYC Inc., backs every token with 100% reserves held in yen deposits and Japanese government bonds, according to crypto.news.
JPYC runs on multiple blockchains, including Avalanche, Ethereum, Polygon, and Kaia. It has already surpassed 2 billion yen in on-chain circulation. The company is also expanding into digital credit use cases through deals with investment firm Metaplanet and digital asset platform Progmat, according to Finance Feeds.
KDDI's Role Signals Telecom Interest in Crypto Retail
KDDI's involvement is notable. Japan's second-largest telecom carrier joining a convenience store stablecoin trial suggests the pilot is about more than just payments. Telecoms control vast customer networks and billing infrastructure, which could one day support wider stablecoin distribution, according to Bloomingbit.
The trial reflects Japan's careful, step-by-step approach to crypto in everyday life. Regulators established the stablecoin licensing rules in 2023, and issuers have moved slowly since then. The Lawson pilot is one of the first real-world retail stress tests of that framework, according to The Block.
One Store Now, Thousands Possible Later
For now, the pilot is strictly limited to the Takanawa Gateway City location. Lawson has not set a timeline for a broader rollout. The company wants hard data first — on speed, reliability, and customer experience — before committing to anything larger, according to Finance Feeds.
Still, the stakes are real. Lawson operates nearly 14,700 stores across Japan. A successful pilot at even one location could build the case for stablecoin payments entering mainstream retail. Japan's crypto market is watching closely.
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