Japanese Stablecoin JPYC Raises New Funding
JPYC, a regulated Japanese yen-pegged stablecoin, has raised $0.9 million in a Series B funding round. The company plans to use the capital to scale its use in Web3 payments, B2B remittances, and to expand its availability across multiple blockchain networks.
JPYC's latest funding is part of a larger $12 million Series B round, indicating significant investor confidence in the regulated stablecoin. The round was led by Japanese IT solutions provider Asteria, with notable participation from BitFlyer Holdings, Japan's largest crypto exchange, and investment vehicles linked to traditional finance giants like Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance and West Japan Railway. This diverse investor base signals a growing convergence between Japan's established financial sector and the digital asset space. The funding arrives as JPYC pioneers a new landscape under Japan's revised Payment Services Act, which came into effect in mid-2023. This legislation formally recognizes fiat-backed stablecoins as "Electronic Payment Instruments," creating a clear regulatory framework for issuers. JPYC was the first to launch under these new regulations in October 2025, positioning it as a key player in the country's evolving digital currency ecosystem. A key element of JPYC's strategy is integrating with existing payment infrastructure to drive mainstream adoption. A partnership with Densan Systems will explore the use of JPYC for payments across Japan's vast network of approximately 65,000 convenience stores, a popular channel for bill payments and e-commerce transactions. This initiative aims to tap into established consumer behaviors for domestic payments, tourism, and cross-border remittances. To address the cross-border payments sector, JPYC has integrated with Circle's StableFX, a foreign exchange quotation system for stablecoins. This move is designed to facilitate more efficient international settlements. Furthering its reach into Web3, JPYC is also set to be integrated into "Unifi," a new Web3 wallet from LINE NEXT, the operator of Japan's most popular messaging app with over 100 million users. This integration aims to lower the barrier to entry for mainstream users to hold and transact with digital assets.
