JPYC Secures ¥1.78 Billion in Series B First Close to Cement Status as Japan’s Default Stablecoin Infrastructure
JPYC Inc., the issuer of the Japanese Yen-pegged stablecoin "JPYC," has completed the first close of its Series B funding round, raising a total of 1.78 billion yen (approx. $11.8 million USD). The round was led by Asteria Corporation, with participation from a diverse consortium of strategic investors including JR West Innovations, bitFlyer Holdings, and regional banking venture arms.
This capital injection serves as confirmation for the Tokyo-based fintech firm's strategy as it transitions from a proof-of-concept phase to full-scale implementation. Following its registration as a Funds Transfer Service Provider in August 2025 and the issuance of the new regulatory-compliant JPYC in October 2025, the company is positioning itself as the de facto standard for digital yen circulation.
From Experimentation to Infrastructure
The newly raised capital is earmarked for four strategic pillars:
- System Fortification: Enhancing security and internal controls to meet financial institution standards, while developing environments for "Machine to Machine" (M2M) payments where AI agents can autonomously transact.
- Talent Acquisition: Aggressively hiring for business development, legal compliance, and blockchain engineering to navigate the complex regulatory landscape.
- B2B Expansion: Moving beyond consumer wallets to facilitate corporate settlements and potential digital payroll systems.
- Strategic Alliances: Fostering new use cases across Web3 and traditional finance sectors.
Surging Velocity and Adoption
Since the launch of the Funds Transfer Service-compliant JPYC in late 2025, the company reports explosive growth metrics. As of January 2026, cumulative issuance has surpassed 1.3 billion yen, with a monthly average growth rate of approximately 69%.
Perhaps most notable to financial analysts is the asset's velocity. JPYC reports a daily asset turnover rate exceeding 100% of the circulation amount. Unlike traditional deposits that often sit dormant, JPYC is being utilized as "moving money" for settlement, remittance, and exchange. Furthermore, while the company hosts 13,000 direct accounts, on-chain data reveals over 80,000 wallet addresses holding the token, suggesting widespread peer-to-peer circulation outside the centralized banking system.
A Multi-Chain Ecosystem
JPYC is currently deployed across three major blockchains—Ethereum (the hub of DeFi), Polygon (popular for NFTs and gaming), and Avalanche (favored for high-speed logistics). The company views these not merely as technical choices but as distinct "economic zones," with JPYC acting as the interoperable bridge currency between them.
Investor Sentiment
Asteria Corporation, the lead investor, cited JPYC’s shift to a fully regulated model as a key driver for their commitment. "The transition to the social implementation phase is evident," stated Asteria CEO Yoichiro Hirano. "We value their challenge to establish a settlement infrastructure that connects diverse economic zones—payments, DeFi, and cross-border transactions—with the reliability of a financial institution."
Other participants in the round include directX Ventures, Chugin Capital Partners, TM Capital, HEROZ, fundnote, and funds associated with Meiji Yasuda Life Insurance and Ryobi Systems.
JPYC CEO Noritaka Okabe commented on the raise, noting, "Since our 2025 issuance, the digital yen economic zone has expanded with certainty. We will continue to challenge ourselves to create a new economic sphere as a financial infrastructure for the AI era."
Norbert Gehrke
