TL;DR:
- Sony Bank and JPYC signed a memorandum to study the purchase of yen-denominated stablecoins directly from bank accounts in real time.
- The JPYC token is backed 1:1 by bank deposits and Japanese government bonds, and operates under Japan’s revised Payment Services Act.
- JPYC plans to raise 1.78 billion yen in the first close of its Series B round to expand its digital payments ecosystem.
Sony Bank and JPYC Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding to study the integration of the yen-denominated stablecoin directly with the bank’s deposit infrastructure. The goal is to offer real-time transfers that allow users to purchase JPYC from their Sony Bank accounts through the JPYC EX platform, without the need for manual bank transfers.
Sony Bank’s Web3-oriented subsidiary, BlockBloom, will play a central role in designing the integration between banking rails, stablecoin rails, and potential consumer services. The companies clarified that the agreement is exploratory and does not involve the creation of a new stablecoin. No timeline was specified for the launch of the real-time transfer functionality.
Stablecoins Penetrate Japanese Territory
JPYC began issuing its yen-backed stablecoin on October 27, 2025, under Japan’s Payment Services Act, which recognizes these instruments as electronic payment methods. The token is backed 1:1 by bank deposits and Japanese government bonds, and its issuance and redemption are carried out through JPYC EX, a platform that requires users to complete identity verification.
Japan is formalizing stablecoin issuance at the regulatory level, and several regulated financial institutions have begun testing their integration at the deposit layer, rather than limiting access to cryptocurrency exchanges. The new functionality envisions the development of a neutral framework, not restricted to a single financial institution, with the aim of preserving JPYC EX’s scalability.
Entertainment, Music and Video Games
Sony Bank and JPYC indicated they will explore linking the stablecoin to intellectual property in the entertainment sector, including music and video games. Among the use cases mentioned are the purchase of digital content and the distribution of rewards.
The companies will also study the simplification of JPYC’s issuance and redemption processes through Sony Bank’s services, with the aim of reducing the steps required from the user. In parallel, JPYC announced plans to raise 1.78 billion yen — approximately $12 million — in the first close of its Series B round, led by Asteria Corporation.
