Digital Yen Rising: JPYC and Banks Lead Japan’s Stablecoin Push

Japan, historically conservative after the 2018 Coincheck hack, is finally moving from legal frameworks to stablecoin implementation.

Analysts, including The Diplomat, frame Japan’s yen tokens as a counter to dollar dependence in global trade. BeInCrypto reported that Asia’s financial hubs are intensifying competition as stablecoin initiatives spread across the region.

Japan Pivots To Stablecoin

The most recent shift came in September 2025, when Japan Post Bank confirmed plans to issue deposit tokens by 2026 using DeCurret DCP’s infrastructure. This rollout is part of Japan’s larger strategy to build DCJPY as a trusted rail for tokenized settlements.

In August, SBI VC Trade entered basic agreements with SMBC and Ripple to jointly develop both yen-based tokens and Ripple’s RLUSD dollar stablecoin for Japan.

At the same time, JPYC prepared to launch JPYC EX, its official issuance and redemption platform. CEO Noritaka Okabe told Reuters that JPYC’s demand would first come from domestic institutions before expanding globally, backed 1:1 with yen deposits and Japanese government bonds.

Okabe envisions JPYC as “Japan’s Circle,” providing a stable and compliant digital yen for both domestic and international markets.

Meanwhile, software company Asteria unveiled a no-code adapter integrating JPYC into enterprise workflows. The company is adopting stablecoin settlement within its corporate systems.

From Conservative to a Leading Stablecoin Country

Japan’s Payment Services Act revision in 2023 legalized stablecoins as electronic payment instruments, setting out three categories:

• Funds-transfer type: Issued by licensed transfer service providers (e.g., JPYC).
• Trust type: Backed by segregated trust assets.
• Deposit type: Issued by banks, insured as deposits (e.g., Japan Post Bank).

The 2025 amendment added an intermediary license, relaxed trust asset rules, and required domestic custody of reserves FSA. The FSA’s 2025 Administrative Policy explicitly listed yen stablecoins as a tool for “upgrading payments.”

These reforms are turning Japan into a leading case study in Asia, showing how regulation can accelerate innovation without sacrificing compliance.

Meanwhile, Japan’s layered approach contrasts with the United States, where USDC and USDT dominate a $150 billion market. The Bank of Japan Digital Money Forum underscored the importance of compliance features such as freeze functions, permission controls, and auditable ledgers.

Regional banks are also moving from pilots to practical trials. Hokuriku Bank is co-developing, with Soft Space, the world’s first SoftPOS system that supports deposit tokens by FY2026.

Minna Bank, together with Solana Japan, Fireblocks, and TIS, is testing RWA settlement and cross-border transfers.

BeInCrypto reported that even Japanese auto parts manufacturers are investing in stablecoin startups, signaling a wider industrial shift toward blockchain-enabled finance.

Behind the Push: Regulation and Strategy

Two main drivers explain Japan’s push. The first is regulatory clarity: Unlike the US’s fragmented system, Japan now has a full legal framework.

1. There’s also geopolitical leverage. As NRI’s July 2025 column observed, yen tokens may reinforce Japan’s financial sovereignty amid US dollar supremacy and China’s digital yuan.

In an interview with BeInCrypto, Dr. Sam Seo, Chairman of Kaia, said:

“Japan is taking a very different approach. Its regulatory clarity allows stablecoins to be used in the real economy, not just as reserves. That makes yen tokens an Asian alternative model.”

Banks Take the Lead

While fintech JPYC moves first, SMBC, Japan Post Bank, and Monex Group are entering with deposit or trust models. Monex confirmed discussions around a remittance-oriented stablecoin but clarified no official issuance decision yet.

Wider Impact

• Merchants: Deposit-token-ready SoftPOS reduces card fees.
• Corporations: JPYC adapters allow integration into ERP and accounting.
• Regulators: Blockchain trails enhance AML enforcement.

The FSA’s 2025 commissioned study stresses that growth in yen tokens must balance efficiency with preventing illicit transfers—a theme echoed by the BOJ.

Essential Facts

• JPYC EX to launch Fall 2025 as Japan’s first licensed yen stablecoin platform.
• Asteria built enterprise tools for JPYC.
• SBI, SMBC, and Ripple collaborate on yen and RLUSD.
• Hokuriku Bank develops SoftPOS for deposit tokens.
• Japan Post Bank plans to issue deposit tokens by 2026.
• Monex explores remittance stablecoins, but no issuance yet.
• Legal reforms in 2023 and 2025 created the framework.

Setting Global Benchmarks

By 2026, Japan could host multiple yen tokens: JPYC’s funds-transfer model, SMBC’s trust coins, deposit tokens from Japan Post Bank, and Monex’s remittance use case.

Their viability will hinge on adoption and liquidity. As The Diplomat noted, success could mark “Japan’s digital finance comeback.”

The US market has grown on scale without a uniform law, while Europe’s MiCA, since 2024, has provided EU clarity. Japan’s model, combining bank, fintech, and regulator, stands out in Asia as compliance-first.

Institution / Project Token Type Launch Timeline Feature JPYC (JPYC EX) Funds-transfer Fall 2025 First licensed yen stablecoin Hokuriku Bank + Soft Space Deposit (POS) FY2026 PCI MPoC SoftPOS Minna Bank + Solana Japan Hybrid exploration Ongoing RWA and cross-border settlement Japan Post Bank Deposit token FY2026 Deposit-insured, NFT/ST use SBI + SMBC + Ripple Mixed (yen + RLUSD) 2025–2026 Cross-border settlement Monex Group Remittance stablecoin TBD Corporate / international focus

After Coincheck’s ¥79 billion hack in 2018 and DMM Bitcoin’s breach in 2024, regulators hardened rules. This delayed innovation but laid the groundwork for safer digital money.

NICMR’s 2022 paper argued that without trust, stablecoins risk becoming “bad money.” Japan’s current two-track system—deposit and electronic instruments—directly addresses that critique.,

Risks include:

• Yen tokens face liquidity deficits against USD stablecoins.
• Enterprise integration may prove costly.
• Overregulation could limit smaller issuers.
• Geopolitical friction may restrict global reach.

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