Sony Bank is preparing to roll out a U.S.-regulated dollar-backed stablecoin by 2026, according to reports. The company is working with Bastion and expanding its Web3 ecosystem, aiming to enable crypto payment options across platforms — including future PlayStation services.
Sony Bank — the digital banking arm under Sony Financial Group — is reportedly gearing up to introduce a U.S.-based stablecoin designed to support payments across Sony’s broad entertainment network.
According to a Monday report from Nikkei, Sony aims to debut a dollar-backed stablecoin in 2026. Once released, the token could be used to purchase PlayStation games and subscriptions, as well as anime content within Sony’s digital platforms.
With U.S. consumers accounting for nearly 30% of Sony Group’s global revenue, the company sees the stablecoin as a way to streamline payments and cut down on credit card processing fees by offering an alternative payment method.
To move the plan forward, Sony Bank filed for a U.S. banking license in October in order to set up a subsidiary focused specifically on stablecoin operations. The bank is also collaborating with Bastion — a U.S.-regulated stablecoin issuer — and Sony’s venture capital arm recently participated in Bastion’s $14.6 million funding round led by Coinbase Ventures.
Sony Bank’s Expansion Into Web3
The push toward a U.S. stablecoin fits into Sony Bank’s broader strategy to grow its Web3 footprint. In June, the bank launched a dedicated Web3 division to accelerate its blockchain-related initiatives.
“Blockchain-powered digital assets are becoming a part of many emerging services and business models,” Sony Bank noted in a statement published in May.
The bank added that financial tools such as wallets for storing NFTs and crypto assets, along with crypto exchange services, are becoming increasingly critical as Web3 adoption expands.
In June 2025, Sony Bank launched a dedicated Web3 subsidiary with an initial investment of 300 million yen (around $1.9 million), according to the bank. The division, now called BlockBloom, is designed to create an ecosystem integrating fans, artists, NFTs, digital and physical experiences, and both fiat and digital currencies.
Related: Animoca plans to expand into stablecoins, AI, and DePIN in 2026, says executive.
The stablecoin project comes after Sony Financial Group — Sony Bank’s parent company — spun off from Sony Group and became independently listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in September. The separation was intended to streamline operations and allow both the financial arm and the broader Sony conglomerate to focus on their strategic priorities.
Cointelegraph reached out to Sony Bank for comment on its potential U.S. stablecoin launch but had not received a reply by the time this article was published.
