JCB Co., Ltd., Digital Garage, Inc., and Lawson, Inc. have entered into a Basic Agreement to conduct a proof of concept (PoC) for stablecoin payments in physical stores. The initiative will explore the use of the US dollar-pegged stablecoin, USDC, for in-store transactions, particularly targeting inbound visitors to Japan.
The collaboration will leverage JCB's stablecoin payment service, Digital Garage's payment API and backend technologies, and Lawson's store operations expertise. The PoC aims to assess the practicality and convenience of stablecoin payments, potentially reducing currency exchange burdens and enhancing cash flow for merchants.
In the PoC, the Consumer-Presented Mode (CPM) method will be used, where a barcode with the stablecoin wallet address is scanned at Lawson's point-of-sale (POS) systems. The integration between Lawson's POS and JCB's payment service will utilize technology from Canal Payment Service Co., Ltd.
The PoC will be implemented at the Lawson Gate City Osaki Atrium Branch starting August 20, 2026, with personnel from JCB, Lawson, and Digital Garage participating. The trial will focus on the feasibility of the payment flow, integration requirements, impact on checkout operations, and user system usability.
This initiative follows a January 2026 collaboration between JCB, Digital Garage, and Resona Holdings, Inc., aimed at the social implementation of stablecoin payments in Japan. The ongoing efforts seek to identify and address challenges in adopting stablecoins for merchant transactions.