BUSINESS

Japan's Stealthy Stablecoin Strategy

Japan, TokyoSat Aug 30 2025

Japan is making waves in the crypto world, but not in the way you might expect. While other countries are loudly announcing their crypto plans, Japan has been quietly building a strong foundation for stablecoins.

A First for Yen-Backed Stablecoins

  • First Mover: Japan was the first to create rules for stablecoins.
  • Upcoming Launch: The country is preparing to launch its first fully collateralized yen-backed stablecoin later this year.

Traditional Companies Enter the Crypto Space

Monex Group

  • Plan: Considering launching a yen-backed stablecoin.
  • Potential Benefits:
  • Easier international money transfers.
  • Simplified business deal settlements in yen.

JPYC

  • Plan: Also planning to launch a yen stablecoin soon.

Big Banks Join the Crypto Game

JPMorgan

  • Investment: Up to $500 million in crypto-friendly hedge fund Numerai.
  • Fund Details:
  • Uses artificial intelligence and crowdsourced models.
  • Fund's cryptocurrency, Numeraire (NMR), surged in value.

Risks and Challenges

ETHZilla

  • Action: Approved a $250 million share buyback program.
  • Concerns: Holds a lot of Ether (ETH); experts worry about market crash risks.

KindlyMD

  • Plan: Planning to buy a lot of Bitcoin (BTC).
  • Funding: $5 billion equity offering to fund Bitcoin purchases.
  • Uncertainty: It's not clear yet how this will play out.

questions

    Could the introduction of a yen-backed stablecoin be a strategic move to undermine the dominance of the US dollar in global markets?
    What are the implications of increasing institutional involvement in the digital asset space on market stability and decentralization?
    If stablecoins had a mascot, what would it be and why?

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