Sony Bank plans to launch a US dollar stablecoin in 2026, accelerating the innovation of global entertainment ecosystem payments.

Sony Bank is accelerating its layout in the encryption payment system, planning to issue a stablecoin pegged to the US dollar as early as the 2026 fiscal year, aimed at serving Sony's vast global ecosystem of games, streaming, and anime. According to the Nikkei News, this stablecoin will allow users to directly pay for subscriptions and digital content on PlayStation and related platforms without relying on credit cards, further dropping Sony's payment costs on the credit card network.

In order to successfully launch the product in the US market, Sony Bank applied for a US banking license in October this year and plans to establish a branch in the US to handle issuance and compliance matters, while collaborating with the US stablecoin infrastructure company Bastion. Over 30% of Sony's revenue comes from the US, making American consumers a key group for the early promotion of stablecoins. This plan also benefits from the recently passed GENIUS Act.

Although Sony Financial Group has been spun off from the Sony Group, it has confirmed that it will continue to support the development and promotion of stablecoins. However, there are concerns in the U.S. banking industry regarding this plan. The ICBA pointed out that Sony's stablecoin appears to be similar to traditional deposit products but is not protected by FDIC insurance, which may pose risks to consumers. The agency also emphasized that Sony Bank has not yet fully met all of the requirements of U.S. financial regulation.

At the same time, institutional adoption of stablecoins is rapidly increasing. Western Union will launch a Solana-based USD token, USDPT, in 2026; nine major banks in Europe will also issue Euro stablecoins compliant with MiCA in 2026; in the United States, Wyoming has launched its own FRNT stablecoin, which is already running on multiple chains.

With the entry of giants and the gradual clarification of regulations, stablecoins are moving towards the mainstream, and Sony's involvement further accelerates the transformation of the global digital payment landscape.