August 3, 2026, 10:15 p.m. (JST)
[Japan] NetStars (Tokyo, Japan) announced that on August 17, 2026, it will conduct a pilot test of “Stablecoin Pay,” a stablecoin payment service based on NetStars’ cashless payment gateway “StarPay,” at the Lawson Osaki Atrium store operated by Lawson.A preliminary test was conducted on August 3 in advance of this trial.
Stablecoins are digital currencies designed to maintain price stability by pegging their value to fiat currencies such as the U.S. dollar or the yen.
In this pilot, in-store payments using three types of stablecoins—USDC, USDT, and JPYC—will be conducted in a real convenience store environment. By integrating “StarPay” with existing POS systems, the company will evaluate the impact on store operations, payment speed, and user experience.
Verifying the practicality of stablecoin payments in convenience stores—where many people shop and a large volume of transactions must be processed quickly—is considered a crucial step toward the everyday use of digital currencies.
To popularize stablecoins in physical stores in Japan, seamless integration with POS systems—which manage product information—is essential.
In this pilot, Lawson’s existing POS system will be connected to NetStars’ payment gateway “StarPay” to verify whether stablecoin payments can be processed without disrupting store operations. Convenience stores require quick and smooth checkout for both customers and store staff.Through this pilot, the feasibility of using stablecoins in physical stores will be evaluated by assessing factors such as payment processing time, the impact on checkout operations, and the ease of use and clarity for customers.
Lawson is actively working to introduce new payment methods to meet the diverse payment needs of its customers. This pilot project is being conducted as part of its efforts to evaluate next-generation payment solutions with an eye toward the era of digital currencies.
NetStars is expanding support for a wide range of domestic and international payment methods through its multi-cashless payment gateway, “StarPay.” In April 2026, the company announced “StarPay-X,” a gateway concept designed to bridge the financial worlds of Web2 and Web3, and announced its commitment to promoting payments across multiple coins, wallets, and blockchains.In July, the company commercialized “Stablecoin Pay,” a stablecoin payment service for retail stores, and began accepting applications from businesses wishing to offer stablecoin payments.
This initiative aims to verify that “Stablecoin Pay” can be used in physical stores while integrating with existing POS environments. NetStars plans to expand the service to various business sectors, including convenience stores, with the goal of fostering an environment where stablecoins are used as a common means of payment in daily life.
Furthermore, by leveraging the insights gained from this pilot, the company aims to advance the widespread adoption of stablecoin payments in physical stores using POS systems and contribute to the development of next-generation payment infrastructure. (paymentnavi Editorial Team)
