[SBI VC Trade x Aplus] Enjoy Unagi and Buy Home Appliances with USD-pegged Stablecoin USDC! Announcement of Start of In-store Payment Demonstration Experiment with USDC at "Nadai Unatoto" and "Bic Camera"

SBI VC Trade Co., Ltd. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Tomohiko Kondo), a consolidated subsidiary of SBI Holdings, Inc. (Head office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, Chairman, and President: Yoshitaka Kitao) engaged in cryptocurrency exchange business, and Aplus Co., Ltd. (Tokyo Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Takayuki Shimada), engaged in payment business, etc., will commence a demonstration experiment for in-store payments utilizing USD-pegged stablecoin (a digital currency whose value is linked to a fiat currency to stabilize price fluctuations) "USD Coin (USDC)" from May 25, 2026 (Monday).

This demonstration experiment is being conducted as part of the "International Financial City OSAKA" initiative, at Nadai Unatoto Honmachi store and a designated section of Bic Camera Namba store in Osaka City. It will be possible to pay for products using USDC via QR code payment, and the experiment will run for five days from May 25 (Monday) to May 29 (Friday), 2026. By catering to inbound demand, the aim is to spread awareness of USDC in-store payments using QR codes among not only domestic residents but also international tourists, and simultaneously acquire knowledge for its practical commercialization.

We invite you to enjoy this opportunity to experience the "future" of purchasing daily necessities with stablecoins, and the new experience of "eating unagi" and "buying home appliances" with USDC.

■ Overview of the Demonstration Experiment

Demonstration Experiment Period
May 25 (Mon) - May 29 (Fri), 2026

Participating Stores
"Nadai Unatoto" Honmachi Store
Address: 3-4-2 Azuchimachi, 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

■ Scheme Diagram of the Demonstration Experiment
① Users holding USDC will make payments using USDC from their private wallets, such as Metamask, by scanning the 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's account.

Based on the knowledge gained from this demonstration experiment, SBI VC Trade and Aplus will proceed with concrete studies toward the commercialization of USDC circulation in Japan and promote the social implementation of stablecoin payments.

This demonstration experiment 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 the principle of "customer-first."

[Reference] Previous Press Release / December 25 (Thursday), 2025
[SBI VC Trade x Aplus] Announcement of Start of "In-store Payment Demonstration Experiment with USD-pegged Stablecoin USDC" Next Spring
URL: https://www.sbivc.co.jp/newsview/5q7omup74s

[About SBI VC Trade]
Under the slogan "Cryptocurrency is also SBI," SBI VC Trade leverages the comprehensive strengths of the SBI Group, one of Japan's largest internet-based comprehensive financial groups, to provide a full lineup of cryptocurrency trading services. As a cryptocurrency exchange operator, a Type 1 Financial Instruments Business Operator, and an Electronic Payment Instruments Business Operator, we create innovative services and businesses based on "customer-first" principles, including the development of cryptocurrency asset management services and corporate services beyond simply buying and selling cryptocurrencies, and the first domestic handling of stablecoin USDC, under a high-security system.
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, engaged in card business, shopping credit business, and payment business. Aplus aims for further growth while thoroughly implementing "customer-first" principles as a member of the SBI Group, to remain a company sought after by customers.
Official Website: https://www.aplus.co.jp
Collection Agency Service Site: https://syukin.ap