[Japan First] INSPAY to Conduct Proof of Concept for Vending Machine Payments Using Japanese Yen Stablecoin "JPYC" in Kyoto

INSPAY Inc. (Chuo-ku, Tokyo), a company developing next-generation payment infrastructure, will collaborate with JPYC Inc., the issuer of the Japanese yen stablecoin "JPYC," HashPort Inc., the provider of the non-custodial wallet "HashPort Wallet," and Cheerio Corporation, a beverage manufacturer headquartered in Kyoto City, to launch a proof of concept (PoC) for vending machine payments using the Japanese yen stablecoin "JPYC" within Kyoto City from July 1, 2026, to September 30, 2026.

This initiative marks the first proof of concept in Japan for stablecoin payments in actual consumption scenarios involving vending machines. Starting with Cheerio vending machines installed in Kyoto City, the experiment will verify a new consumption experience utilizing JPYC for everyday small-amount payments.

JPYC (Issuance) / HashPort (Wallet) / INSPAY (Payment Terminal & Merchant Integration) / Cheerio (Vending Machines & Beverages)

Proof of Concept (PoC) Overview

Name: Proof of Concept (PoC) for Japanese Yen Stablecoin "JPYC" Payments in Vending Machines

Period: July 1, 2026 - September 30, 2026 (scheduled)

Participating Companies: JPYC (Issuance) / HashPort (Wallet) / INSPAY (Payment Terminal & Merchant Integration) / Cheerio (Vending Machines & Beverages)

Content: Provide a product purchase experience using JPYC at Cheerio vending machines in Kyoto City through HashPort Wallet.

Installation Locations (Initial deployment to select 3 locations):

・423 Higashi-kōji-chō, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto City

・481 Kitagamon-chō, Sakyo-ku

・249 Shintōdōin-chō, Nishi-iru, Nijō-dōri, Sakyo-ku

Purchase of Cheerio products using JPYC at Cheerio vending machines in Kyoto City

Experience Campaign

A user experience campaign will also be conducted during the PoC period. Users will purchase Cheerio products with JPYC from HashPort Wallet, and a campaign is planned where eligible products will be available at half price during the period. The aim is to lower the barrier to entry for first-time users and allow more people to experience stablecoin payments in actual consumption scenes.

Background: Vending Machines as a Massive Payment Touchpoint

Japan is one of the world's leading vending machine nations, and vending machines are an important daily retail infrastructure in tourist spots, offices, stations, and event venues. On the other hand, the industry is at a turning point for digital transformation, facing challenges such as rising cash management costs, payment needs of inbound tourists, and the need for efficiency in unmanned environments.

Stablecoins, with their high-speed, low-cost remittances, programmable design, and global accessibility through wallets, are highly compatible with the characteristics of vending machines – small amounts, high frequency, and unmanned operation – and can serve as a new option to complement existing cashless payment methods.

For inbound tourists in particular, there is a possibility to directly link their digital assets to consumption within Japan. This PoC aims to be a pioneering example of "stablecoins x unmanned retail terminals," which is still in its early stages globally.

Roles of Each Company

JPYC: As a Japanese yen stablecoin, connect digital assets with actual consumption scenes in Japanese yen.

HashPort: Provide the user-side non-custodial wallet experience through HashPort Wallet.

Cheerio Corporation: As a beverage manufacturer headquartered in Kyoto City, provide the actual consumption touchpoint (vending machines).

INSPAY: Responsible for payment terminals for vending machines, offline payment connections, and merchant system integration.

Future Development

Following its debut at "IVS2026" held in Kyoto on July 1, 2026, the demonstration is scheduled to continue smoothly until the end of September this year. Based on the results of this demonstration, INSPAY plans to expand stablecoin payments to various offline commercial scenes, including unmanned retail terminals, game and amusement facilities, event venues, and tourist destinations.

Comments

Noritaka Okabe, Representative Director and President, JPYC Inc. "JPYC aims to be a new payment infrastructure that connects the Japanese yen with the digital economy. This PoC, which allows users to experience JPYC payments in the familiar consumption scene of vending machines, is an important step towards the social implementation of stablecoins. Together with HashPort, INSPAY, and Cheerio, we will expand the possibilities of Japanese yen stablecoins that can be used in daily life."

Seihiro Yoshida, Representative Director and CEO, HashPort Inc. "We are very pleased that HashPort Wallet, our domestic No. 1 non-custodial wallet, will be used in this PoC. HashPort's corporate mission is to bring 'unseen value into daily life.' We believe this PoC, which allows users to experience stablecoin payments through HashPort Wallet in a daily location like a vending machine, is a significant step towards making stablecoins 'everyday payments that anyone can use immediately' rather than 'special items.'"

Wang Yue, Representative Director and President, INSPAY Inc. "For stablecoins to take root in society, they need to enter consumption scenes that people interact with daily, not just exchanges and wallets. Vending machines are one of the most familiar and high-frequency payment touchpoints in Japan. The experience of purchasing Cheerio products with JPYC is a symbolic step towards stablecoins evolving into real payment methods. Through this PoC, we will contribute to the digital transformation and cashless advancement of the vending machine industry, and to creating a payment environment that is also friendly to inbound tourists."

About INSPAY

INSPAY is a technology company building next-generation payment infrastructure for the stablecoin era. It seamlessly connects wallets, digital assets, payment terminals, and merchant systems to provide new payment experiences utilizing digital money in physical stores. The founding team has extensive experience in the development and implementation of QR code payment terminals, merchant networks, and unmanned payment terminals, possessing broad expertise from the implementation to the operation of payment infrastructure.