SOWAKA Establishes Sowaka Japan Inc. to Drive Domestic Social Implementation of Stablecoins Including JPYC

SOWAKA Pte. Ltd. (hereinafter "SOWAKA") has established Sowaka Japan Inc. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Wataru Matsuda), effective June 1, 2026, to build an environment for stablecoin usage in Japan.

Sowaka Japan will lead business development with domestic stores, enterprises, and local communities, as well as merchant acquisition and service implementation and operational support.

As its first initiative, the company will launch "MisePay," a QR code-based payment system designed for merchants accepting stablecoin payments.

MisePay achieves a 0% transaction fee for merchants. Additionally, by leveraging smart account technology, it features a permission management system that enables delegation of refund operations to on-site staff without granting them full administrative control over the store wallet.

Pilot trials aimed at verification have already been confirmed with multiple stores, and Sowaka Japan is now launching a new call for additional participating merchants ahead of official service rollout.

Background for Establishing the Japanese Entity

The stablecoin ecosystem is transitioning from a phase centered on holding and trading to one focused on practical applications—such as in-store payments, intercompany transactions, and integration into various services.

However, the number of stores and services where stablecoins can be used for everyday payments remains limited.

Simply developing a payment system is insufficient to expand usage locations. What is needed are merchant acquisition efforts, in-store explanations, post-implementation operational support, and structures tailored to Japanese business practices and merchant needs.

The Web3 service "Avacus" has, since its launch in December 2017, proposed new user experiences leveraging cryptocurrencies and blockchain through the development and operation of wallet, social networking, and community features. Since August 2022, SOWAKA has been operating the Avacus business.

Sowaka Japan serves as a business hub to deploy the technical expertise and operational knowledge accumulated thus far into real-world applications for Japanese stores and enterprises. By directly collaborating with merchants and businesses, it aims to promote an environment where stablecoins can be used for everyday payments.

First Initiative: "MisePay"—Enabling Secure, On-Site Refund Operations Without Transferring Administrative Rights

MisePay integrates and restructures the functionalities of "Avacus Pay," a merchant-focused payment service announced in December 2025, and "AIM," a merchant onboarding and operational support service, with a refreshed brand and service design.

MisePay is a merchant payment app supporting QR code payments in JPYC.

It offers a 0% transaction fee model for merchants, with no setup costs and no need for dedicated payment terminals.

Moreover, MisePay employs smart account technology to enable fine-grained control and delegation of refund permissions for JPYC-based store payments.

On-site staff are granted only the permissions necessary for processing refunds, while full administrative rights over store funds remain with management. Refund permissions can be configured by store, by staff member, and with set maximum amounts, and all actions—including refund timestamps, personnel, and amounts—are fully traceable.

This allows stores to conduct refund operations swiftly on-site without compromising asset security or requiring constant managerial approval.

Key Features of MisePay

Supports JPYC as the initial currency

0% transaction fee charged to merchants by MisePay

Zero-cost setup

No dedicated payment terminal required—implementation via QR code

Delegate refund permissions without transferring master wallet control

Flexible permission settings: refund-only, per-store, per-staff, with amount limits

Provides merchants with payment confirmation, transaction history, and merchant management features

Sowaka Japan supports setup and ongoing operations

Sowaka Japan does not hold stablecoins or any other assets belonging to users or merchants.

It does not issue, redeem, buy, sell, exchange, or manage assets. Instead, it provides technical infrastructure for wallet-to-wallet payments and support for merchant onboarding and operations.

Note: "0% transaction fee" means no fee is charged to merchants based on transaction amounts. However, network fees or other charges may apply depending on the blockchain, wallet, or third-party services used.

Pilot Rollout Confirmed at Multiple Stores; Call for Additional Participating Merchants

MisePay has already secured pilot trials with multiple stores for verification purposes.

These trials will evaluate payment workflows, merchant-side confirmation and management methods, customer communication approaches, and in-store operational and support frameworks.

Feedback from participating stores will be incorporated into the service to ensure it is intuitive and practical for real-world adoption upon official launch.

Concurrently, Sowaka Japan is launching a call for additional merchants to participate in the trial rollout.

<Overview of Call for Trial Participants>

Eligibility: Restaurants, retail stores, service providers, etc.

Planned Trial Start: From July 2026

Application Method: https://misepay.app/

Stores and businesses interested in participating can apply via the dedicated form or contact form.

Details regarding participating stores, supported blockchain networks, compatible wallets, and official launch date will be announced as finalized.

Future Outlook

Sowaka Japan will advance pilot verifications at merchant locations and continue recruiting participating merchants, aiming for the official launch of MisePay and expansion of its merchant network.

In the future, the company plans to integrate with Avacus’s wallet, social networking, and community platform to evolve beyond one-off payments into services that foster ongoing connections between merchants and customers.

Statement from the Representative

Wataru Matsuda, Representative Director, Sowaka Japan Inc.

For stablecoins to become a mainstream payment method, it’s not only necessary to increase the number of stores where they can be used, but also to establish systems that allow merchants to adopt and operate them smoothly.

Together with stores participating in our pilot tests, we will build a service grounded in real-world needs. Our goal is to create an environment—built from the ground up—that enables users to transact without needing to understand complex technology, while also making it easy for merchants to adopt as a new payment method.

Company Overview: Sowaka Japan Inc.

Company Name: Sowaka Japan Inc.

Address: 6F, Aoyama Marutake Building, 3-1-36 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Established: June 1, 2026

Representative: Representative Director Wataru Matsuda

Main Business Activities:

Development, provision, and implementation support for stablecoin-compatible merchant payment systems

Development of digital wallets and Web3-related systems

Support for digital technology adoption by stores, enterprises, and communities

Support for business development leveraging blockchain, AI, and other advanced technologies

About SOWAKA

SOWAKA develops and operates products and services leveraging blockchain technology, including the Web3 platform "Avacus."

Avacus offers features enabling individuals and organizations to connect in Web3—centered around a Web3 social network with integrated mobile wallet functionality—such as chat between wallet addresses, community building, and support for forming and operating DAOs.

Since launching in December 2017, SOWAKA has been promoting new cryptocurrency-based lifestyles, supporting corporate innovation, and advancing blockchain research through the development and operation of its proprietary services.

Avacus Service Website:

https://avacus.cc/

Inquiries Regarding This Announcement and MisePay Implementation

Sowaka Japan Inc. Contact Form

E-mail: info@sowaka.io

URL: https://misepay.app/

MisePay Merchant Application: https://misepay.app/contact-sales