Sony is quietly laying the groundwork for a major crypto move. According to a new report, Sony Bank plans to launch a U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoin in 2026, designed to support payments across the PlayStation ecosystem, including games, subscriptions, and anime content.
The initiative is being driven by Sony Bank, the online lending arm of Sony Financial Group, which filed for a U.S. banking license in October to set up a stablecoin-focused subsidiary.
The target market is clear. American customers account for roughly 30% of Sony Group’s external sales, making the U.S. a natural testing ground for digital currency payments.
Rather than replacing existing options, the stablecoin will run alongside traditional payment methods like credit cards. Sony expects the token to lower transaction fees paid to card networks while giving users more flexibility when purchasing digital content across its platforms.
To execute the plan, Sony Bank has partnered with Bastion, a U.S.-based stablecoin issuer. The relationship runs deeper than a simple vendor agreement. Sony’s venture arm participated in Bastion’s $14.6 million funding round, which was led by Coinbase Ventures, aligning Sony with established crypto infrastructure players.
This stablecoin effort builds on broader Web3 ambitions. In June, Sony Bank launched a dedicated subsidiary called BlockBloom, capitalized with 300 million yen, or about $1.9 million. The unit is focused on creating an ecosystem that connects fans, creators, NFTs, and both fiat and digital currencies into a single experience.
Sony Bank has been increasingly vocal about the role of blockchain in financial services. In May, the bank noted that wallets for NFTs and Bitcoin are becoming essential tools as digital assets are embedded into new business models across entertainment and finance.
The timing also reflects structural changes inside the company. Sony Financial Group officially separated from Sony Group and listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in September. The spin-off was designed to give the financial arm more autonomy and freedom to pursue focused strategies like digital assets and Web3 payments.
Sony Bank has operated in Singapore since 2017 and continues to view the region as a key hub for its global Web3 expansion. While the company has not disclosed technical details or an exact rollout schedule, the message is clear. Sony is positioning stablecoins not as an experiment, but as infrastructure for the next phase of digital entertainment.
