JPYC, the Tokyo-based issuer of Japan's first licensed yen-pegged stablecoin, has closed an additional Series B financing round, bringing the total investment raised to approximately ¥6 billion (about $38 million).
This investment round involves logistics group AZ-COM Maruwa Holdings as a new investor. The company also plans to pay fees and salaries to approximately 2,300 employees using the JPYC token.
What is JPYC?
JPYC is a digital token launched in October 2025, always equal to one Japanese yen. It is Japan's first registered yen-equivalent stablecoin, with each JPYC token backed by real yen deposits and Japanese government reserve bonds.
The company completed a second Series B funding close after AZ-COM Maruwa Holdings, which operates one of Japan's largest freight transport and warehouse networks and counts Amazon Japan as a major client, invested about ¥1 billion ($6.3 million).
The first funding close was reportedly completed in February, when Asteria Corporation led a raise of ¥1.78 billion (about $12 million), primarily through investments from Japanese corporations including BitFlyer Holdings and companies related to Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance and West Japan Railway.
A second close reportedly occurred in April for ¥2.8 billion, bringing the total raised to about ¥4.6 billion. Investors included NCB Venture Capital, Metaplanet, and Sumitomo Life.
Now, with the additional ¥1 billion investment, the total amount raised in this funding round is approximately ¥6 billion ($38 million).
Previously, Cryptopolitan reported that on-chain cryptocurrency volume exceeded ¥2 billion in July, roughly $12.36 million, with market capitalization approaching $16.28 million against a stated three-year target of ¥1 trillion.
Beyond its investment, AZ-COM Maruwa Holdings plans to use JPYC to pay rewards and wages to approximately 2,300 business partners and individual contractors, including truck drivers.
Why? Because stablecoin payments are processed faster than traditional bank transfers and cost significantly less. Faster payments can help attract more business partners and address a driver shortage caused by Japan's aging workforce and stricter overtime pay regulations.
What are Japan's plans for the stablecoin industry?
The Japanese government is actively promoting yen-pegged stablecoins as a counterbalance to dollar-linked tokens, which dominate the roughly $315 billion stablecoin market.
Cryptopolitan recently reported that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party asked the Finance Minister to promote yen stablecoins as a payment system in Asia, but lawmakers fear dollar coins could bypass national banks, excluding Japanese lenders from cross-border flows.
In a press release, JPYC noted that "on-chain finance" was included in the national agenda within the government's economic policy package on July 21.
Japan's three largest banks, MUFG (NYSE: MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui, and Mizuho, have conducted joint stablecoin testing, while the SBI Group officially launched its own yen stablecoin called JPYSC in June 2026.
JPYC is testing stablecoin payments at a Lawson store, and they are also accepted by some vending machines in Kyoto and the Chibo okonomiyaki restaurant chain. The company plans to use the raised funds to expand payment systems, remittances, and integration with Web3 services.
