Lawson has expanded its stablecoin payment pilot to include USDC, USDT and JPYC through a second point-of-sale test at two Tokyo stores, while continuing to evaluate the technology for future retail use.
Summary
- Lawson will test POS based stablecoin payments at two Tokyo stores using JPYC, USDC and USDT.
- The pilot removes the need for dedicated payment terminals by processing wallet barcodes through existing checkout systems.
- The company will evaluate payment speed, POS integration and store operations before considering wider adoption.
- A second proof of concept is scheduled for later in August as Lawson continues assessing stablecoin payments in retail.
According to an announcement from Lawson, the convenience store operator will conduct two proof-of-concept trials this month to test stablecoin payments directly through its existing point-of-sale (POS) registers without requiring separate payment terminals or QR code displays.
The first trial is scheduled for Aug. 6 at the Lawson Takanawa Gateway City store and will be limited to invited participants using the HashPort Wallet with the yen-backed stablecoin JPYC. A second test will follow on Aug. 17 at the Lawson Gate City Osaki Atrium store, where participants will use MetaMask to pay with USDC, USDT or JPYC.
Lawson said the pilot is designed to verify how its POS system connects with digital wallets, how settlement is processed and how long each payment takes before deciding whether the technology is suitable for wider deployment.
Lawson has added multiple stablecoins to the retail pilot
Unlike earlier stablecoin payment setups that required dedicated payment terminals or separate QR codes, the company said customers in the pilot will display a payment barcode from their wallet application, which will be scanned directly by the store’s existing POS register.
The checkout process routes payment information through Canal Payment Services’ multi-code payment gateway PAYTREE, which exchanges settlement data with the user’s wallet provider before confirming the transaction. Lawson said removing the need for separate hardware is a key feature being tested during the pilot.
Besides transaction speed, the company will examine day-to-day store operations, including POS integration and settlement procedures, to determine whether the system can operate smoothly in a retail environment.
The Aug. 17 trial also expands the project beyond the original plan by adding the dollar-backed stablecoins USDC and USDT alongside JPYC while using MetaMask instead of HashPort Wallet.
Stablecoin payments remain under evaluation
Although customers participating in the pilot will complete purchases with stablecoins, the trials are restricted to related personnel and are not yet available to the public.
Lawson also said another proof-of-concept test is planned later in August as it continues evaluating whether stablecoin payments can be introduced across its stores.
Earlier reporting by crypto.news noted that the company originally announced only a JPYC payment trial at its Takanawa Gateway City location. At the time, Lawson described the project as Japan’s first attempt to connect stablecoin payments directly with an existing POS system rather than relying on dedicated payment equipment.
The retailer previously said it would review system stability, transaction speed and operational efficiency before making any decision on commercial deployment.
Japan’s stablecoin activity has continued to expand
The latest pilot comes as regulated stablecoin projects continue to move into commercial use across Japan.
Earlier this month, crypto.news reported that logistics company AZ-COM Maruwa Holdings plans to adopt JPYC to make payments to about 2,300 business partners, including truck drivers. According to Nikkei, the company expects the fee-free stablecoin to support faster and more frequent payments than conventional bank transfers while considering an investment of more than ¥1 billion in JPYC Inc.
Retail adoption has also started to emerge. Crypto.news previously reported that selected Chibo restaurant locations began accepting JPYC, while several dental clinics in Tokyo and Chiba have announced plans to introduce the stablecoin using HashPort’s payment infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Japan’s financial sector has continued preparing regulated stablecoin services. Major banks including MUFG Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Mizuho Bank have said they plan to begin live yen-backed stablecoin transactions during fiscal 2026, following industry efforts to establish common standards for issuance, governance and settlement systems.
Lawson said it will continue studying the use of stablecoins at its stores as it looks for ways to improve payment convenience for customers while assessing the technology through successive pilot programs.