Japan Stablecoin Race Just Got a Major Boost

JPYC Inc., the Tokyo-based company behind Japan's leading yen-pegged stablecoin, has wrapped up an extended Series B funding round that brings total capital raised to approximately $38 million. The raise positions JPYC as a well-funded contender in what is quickly becoming one of the most competitive domestic stablecoin markets in Asia.

A Funding Round Built on Institutional Confidence

JPYC Inc. secured a cumulative total of approximately JPY 5 billion across the first and second closings of its Series B round. The investor base spans traditional finance and the digital asset sector. Participants include NCB Venture Capital, Metaplanet, Canal Ventures, Sumitomo Life Insurance (SUMISEI INNOVATION FUND), i-nest capital, NTVP, North Pacific Bank, and Yokohama Capital. The fundraise signals a broadening of interest beyond the crypto sector, with most backers drawn from corporate Japan rather than the digital asset industry.

The funds will be used for system and application development, talent recruitment, stablecoin issuance and settlement business, as well as strategic investments. On the product side, JPYC plans to enhance machine-to-machine (M2M) payments through AI agents and expand its presence on Ethereum and Polygon.

The company has reported solid early traction. The stablecoin has issued over JPY 2.5 billion in seven months and processed JPY 35 billion in transactions. JPYC was also recently selected as an official asset for "Unifi," a next-generation Web3 wallet provided by LINE NEXT.

Corporate Adoption and a Crowded Market Ahead

One concrete sign of real-world adoption is the planned use of JPYC by logistics company AZ-COM Maruwa for contractor fees and salary payments, a move that could serve as a blueprint for broader corporate payroll use of stablecoins in Japan.

JPYC launched in October 2025 as the first stablecoin issued under Japan's regulatory framework for fund transfer businesses, and remains the only onshore stablecoin of its kind. The issuance operates strictly under Japan's Payment Services Act, providing a secure and audited on-ramp and off-ramp for both retail and institutional users.

Competition is set to intensify. Three of Japan's largest banks, MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, plan to begin live commercial transactions using a jointly issued stablecoin during fiscal year 2026. Their joint proof-of-concept, launched in March 2026, targets JPY 1 trillion in B2B stablecoin issuance by 2028 across more than 300,000 corporate clients. For JPYC, the funding and early-mover regulatory status may prove critical advantages as that race heats up.

Sources:
Ledger Insights: JPYC raises Series B as mainstream investors back yen stablecoin
Fintech Observer: JPYC raises JPY 5bn, targeting mass adoption and M2M payments
Coinpedia: Japan's three largest banks target stablecoin launch in FY2026