[SBI VC Trade x Aplus] Enjoy Eel and Buy Home Appliances with US Dollar-Pegged Stablecoin USDC! Announcement of Pilot Project for USDC In-Store Payments at 'Nadai Unatoto' and 'Bic Camera'
SBI VC Trade and Aplus will commence a pilot project for in-store payments using the US dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC in Osaka. This initiative aims to enable consumers to purchase items like eel and home appliances with USDC, promoting the social implementation of stablecoins and catering to inbound demand.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 20:00
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SBI VC Trade Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Chairman & President: Yoshitaka Kitao), a consolidated subsidiary of SBI Holdings, Inc. engaged in crypto asset exchange business, and Aplus Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director & President: Takayuki Shimada), engaged in payment businesses, will commence a pilot project for in-store payments utilizing the US dollar-pegged stablecoin (a digital currency whose price is linked to a fiat currency to stabilize price fluctuations) "USD Coin (USDC)" from Monday, May 25, 2026.
This pilot project will be conducted as part of the "International Financial City OSAKA" initiative, specifically at "Nadai Unatoto" Honmachi store and a designated section of "Bic Camera" Namba store in Osaka City. Customers will be able to pay for products using USDC via QR code. The experiment will run for five days, from Monday, May 25, 2026, to Friday, May 29, 2026. By catering to inbound demand, the project aims to raise awareness of USDC in-store QR code payments among both domestic residents and international tourists, while also acquiring knowledge for its practical implementation.
Through this pilot project, we invite you to experience the "future" of purchasing everyday items with stablecoins, and the new experience of "eating eel" and "buying home appliances" with USDC.
■ Pilot Project Overview
Pilot Project Period
May 25 (Mon) - May 29 (Fri), 2026
Participating Stores
"Nadai Unatoto" Honmachi Store
Address: 3-4-2 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yCmY6X77L33ttdd2A
"Bic Camera" Namba Store
Address: 2-10-1 Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Store Page: https://www.biccamera.com/bc/i/shop/shoplist/shop013.jsp
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8jU7njDrzpnZZMWp7
■ Pilot Project Scheme Diagram
① Users holding USDC will make payments using USDC from their private wallets, such as MetaMask, by scanning a QR code provided by the participating store.
② SBI VC Trade will exchange the USDC sent by users into Japanese Yen and transfer the Japanese Yen to Aplus.
③ Aplus will deposit the Japanese Yen into the store.
Based on the knowledge gained from this pilot project, SBI VC Trade and Aplus will proceed with concrete considerations for the commercialization of USDC circulation in Japan, promoting the social implementation of stablecoin payments.
This pilot project embodies one of the SBI Group's management philosophies: "Be a financial innovator." SBI VC Trade and Aplus will continue to realize customer-centric services based on "customer-first principle."
[Reference] Previous Press Release / Thursday, December 25, 2025
[SBI VC Trade x Aplus] Announcement of Pilot Project for US Dollar-Pegged Stablecoin USDC In-Store Payments to Start Next Spring
URL: https://www.sbivc.co.jp/newsview/5q7omup74s
[About SBI VC Trade]
Under the slogan "Crypto Assets are also SBI," SBI VC Trade leverages the comprehensive strength of the SBI Group, one of Japan's largest internet financial groups, to provide a full lineup of crypto asset trading services. As a crypto asset exchange, Type 1 Financial Instruments Business Operator, and Electronic Payment Instruments Service Provider, it operates under a high-security system, creating innovative services and businesses based on the "customer-first principle," including not only crypto asset trading but also crypto asset management services, corporate services, and the first domestic handling of USDC stablecoin.
VCTRADE Service Site: https://www.sbivc.co.jp/
VCTRADE Service X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/sbivc_official
[About Aplus]
Aplus is a key subsidiary of the SBI Shinsei Bank Group in the consumer finance sector, operating card businesses, shopping credit businesses, and payment businesses. Aplus aims for further growth while thoroughly implementing the "customer-first principle" as a member of the SBI Group, striving to remain a company sought after by its customers.
Official Website: https://www.aplus.co.jp
Collection Agency Service Site: https://syukin.aplu
This pilot project will be conducted as part of the "International Financial City OSAKA" initiative, specifically at "Nadai Unatoto" Honmachi store and a designated section of "Bic Camera" Namba store in Osaka City. Customers will be able to pay for products using USDC via QR code. The experiment will run for five days, from Monday, May 25, 2026, to Friday, May 29, 2026. By catering to inbound demand, the project aims to raise awareness of USDC in-store QR code payments among both domestic residents and international tourists, while also acquiring knowledge for its practical implementation.
Through this pilot project, we invite you to experience the "future" of purchasing everyday items with stablecoins, and the new experience of "eating eel" and "buying home appliances" with USDC.
■ Pilot Project Overview
Pilot Project Period
May 25 (Mon) - May 29 (Fri), 2026
Participating Stores
"Nadai Unatoto" Honmachi Store
Address: 3-4-2 Azuchi-cho, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yCmY6X77L33ttdd2A
"Bic Camera" Namba Store
Address: 2-10-1 Sennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka
Store Page: https://www.biccamera.com/bc/i/shop/shoplist/shop013.jsp
Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/8jU7njDrzpnZZMWp7
■ Pilot Project Scheme Diagram
① Users holding USDC will make payments using USDC from their private wallets, such as MetaMask, by scanning a QR code provided by the participating store.
② SBI VC Trade will exchange the USDC sent by users into Japanese Yen and transfer the Japanese Yen to Aplus.
③ Aplus will deposit the Japanese Yen into the store.
Based on the knowledge gained from this pilot project, SBI VC Trade and Aplus will proceed with concrete considerations for the commercialization of USDC circulation in Japan, promoting the social implementation of stablecoin payments.
This pilot project embodies one of the SBI Group's management philosophies: "Be a financial innovator." SBI VC Trade and Aplus will continue to realize customer-centric services based on "customer-first principle."
[Reference] Previous Press Release / Thursday, December 25, 2025
[SBI VC Trade x Aplus] Announcement of Pilot Project for US Dollar-Pegged Stablecoin USDC In-Store Payments to Start Next Spring
URL: https://www.sbivc.co.jp/newsview/5q7omup74s
[About SBI VC Trade]
Under the slogan "Crypto Assets are also SBI," SBI VC Trade leverages the comprehensive strength of the SBI Group, one of Japan's largest internet financial groups, to provide a full lineup of crypto asset trading services. As a crypto asset exchange, Type 1 Financial Instruments Business Operator, and Electronic Payment Instruments Service Provider, it operates under a high-security system, creating innovative services and businesses based on the "customer-first principle," including not only crypto asset trading but also crypto asset management services, corporate services, and the first domestic handling of USDC stablecoin.
VCTRADE Service Site: https://www.sbivc.co.jp/
VCTRADE Service X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/sbivc_official
[About Aplus]
Aplus is a key subsidiary of the SBI Shinsei Bank Group in the consumer finance sector, operating card businesses, shopping credit businesses, and payment businesses. Aplus aims for further growth while thoroughly implementing the "customer-first principle" as a member of the SBI Group, striving to remain a company sought after by its customers.
Official Website: https://www.aplus.co.jp
Collection Agency Service Site: https://syukin.aplu