Japan's Payment Services Act and bank-led stablecoins map a 2028 issuance goal
Japan revised its Payment Services Act in June 2023 and continued updates through 2026, positioning fiat-pegged stablecoins as regulated payment instruments mainly for institutional use. The framework supports a three-tier issuer model, while Project Pax backed by MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho aims for 1 trillion yen in B2B stablecoin issuance by 2028. Milestones cited include JPYC receiving a Type II license in October 2025 and JPYSC being announced in late 2025 with a Q2 2026 target.