Lawson launches Japan’s first POS-integrated stablecoin trial

Lawson will pilot JPYC stablecoin payments at a Tokyo store in August, integrating with the POS system for smartphone e-wallet transactions. The trial will assess stability and speed before wider rollout.

Lawson, a leading Japanese convenience store chain, will begin a pilot program in early August to enable payments using the yen-pegged stablecoin JPYC at its Takanawa Gateway City store in Tokyo. This initiative, in partnership with HashPort, KDDI, and Canal Payment Service, will integrate JPYC payments directly into the store’s POS system. Customers can pay via a smartphone e-wallet by displaying a barcode for staff to scan. The trial is limited to selected participants from the partner companies and aims to evaluate the stability of POS integration, payment processing speed, and overall usability. This marks Japan’s first trial connecting stablecoin payments with a retail POS system, offering an alternative to traditional payment methods and potentially paving the way for broader digital currency adoption in retail. The pilot’s outcome will determine if Lawson expands the system to additional stores.